Craig Schauer, Brooks Pierce Photo

Craig Schauer

Partner

Overview

Craig Schauer is a trusted litigator who advises and advocates for clients. He has been fortunate to counsel clients through a wide variety of disputes and legal problems, ranging from business disagreements, to regulatory battles, to constitutional lawsuits.

My Practices

  • Craig has represented businesses of all sizes—from small partnerships to Fortune 100 corporations—in state and federal courts, arbitration proceedings, and various regulatory agencies with disputes regarding contractual relationships, constitutional rights, class actions, unfair competition claims, government regulations, defamation, and other commercial issues. He has worked with clients in a variety of sectors, including healthcare, construction, professional sports, nonprofit, franchises, energy, financial services, public utilities, and local and state government. 

    "I believe in resolving disputes amicably, but do not hesitate to throw hard — but fair —punches to protect the Firm's clients."
  • Craig’s advocacy includes representing businesses in the water, power, and renewable energy industries. He advises both energy producers and energy consumers on relevant state and federal regulations. He frequently appears before the North Carolina Utilities Commission, including representing clients in rate proceedings, utility transactions, and other matters requiring regulatory approval.

  • Craig helps clients confidently express their political voice by ensuring that their political conduct complies with the law. He advises corporations on how to form entities that will be politically active, either directly or indirectly, and helps craft company policies on political activity and lobbying practices. He represents clients before the Board of Elections and the Ethics Commission in regulatory proceedings and confidential investigations. He also assists local and state governments in ensuring compliance with federal and state elections law, including the Voting Rights Act and other constitutional requirements.

    Craig not only assists clients with political activity, but also helps them navigate other free speech and First Amendment issues within the public sphere.

Credentials

Clerkships

Law Clerk to Associate Justice Paul M. Newby, Supreme Court of North Carolina, 2010-2011

Law Clerk to James C. Dever III, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, 2011-2012

Honors & Recognitions

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Commercial Litigation (2021-2023)

Selected for Benchmark Litigation's "40 & Under Hot List" (2020-2021)

Selected by his peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite" in the Young Guns category (2019)

Recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) as a "Rising Star" in Civil Rights Law (2018); Business Litigation (2019-2020)

Education

Duke University School of Law, J.D., 2010, magna cum laude; Order of the Coif; Managing Editor of Law and Contemporary Problems, DeHoff/Arnold Endowed Law Scholar

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 2005, with distinction, Chairman of Honor Court

Admissions

North Carolina

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina

Newsroom

News

Professional & Civic

Professional & Civic Activities

Member, State Judicial Council (2021-present)

Board of Directors, North Raleigh Young Life Committee (2019-present)

Ruling Elder, Midtown Community Church (2015-2019)

Board of Directors, Greater-Raleigh Young Life Committee (2011-2019)

About Me

I believe that relationships matter — we were not created to live in isolation. I invest in the relationships in my life, and I prioritize my family and local community. But I also believe that relationships matter to my clients: Businesses, just like people, do not exist in a vacuum — they depend on relationships. Unfortunately, all relationships, whether personal or business, are prone to breaking down. In my personal life, I seek to foster and restore relationships  by being involved in local ministries. In my professional life, I use the law and the courts to help my clients build and defend their most important relationships. 

  • 32
    32 attorneys named to Business North Carolina's 2023 "Legal Elite" and "Hall of Fame"
  • 109
    109 attorneys with the highest standard of professional and personal excellence
  • 71
    71 of our attorneys are ranked in Best Lawyers for 2023
Jump to Page

This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. For more information on our cookie use, see our Privacy Policy.