O’Melveny Welcomes Former Federal Prosecutor and J&J Global Practice Leader William E. Craco to Its New York Office
February 3, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK—February 3, 2025—O’Melveny announced today that William E. Craco, a former Assistant US Attorney and the former Global Practice Leader for Investigations & Government Litigation at Johnson & Johnson, has joined the firm’s New York office as a special counsel in its White Collar Defense & Corporate Investigations Practice Group and Life Sciences Industry Group. He will advise clients in the life sciences and other heavily regulated sectors, providing guidance on litigation, compliance, and enforcement matters. Craco will also help with the firm’s acclaimed pro bono efforts, focusing on complex and high-impact cases.
Craco brings upwards of 35 years of experience to O’Melveny—including 20 years as in-house counsel for multinational life sciences corporation Johnson & Johnson, where he advised senior management on global litigation and compliance risk. In his role as J&J’s Global Practice Leader for Investigations & Government Litigation, Craco led the company’s defense of litigation and investigations brought by federal and state law enforcement and regulatory authorities, including the US Department of Justice, the Office of Inspector General for the US Department of Health and Human Services, and various state attorneys general. He also managed complex internal investigations related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the US False Claims Act.
Earlier in his career, Craco spent 10 years as an Assistant US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, including three years as Deputy Chief of the SDNY’s Criminal Division. In those roles, he supervised scores of prosecutions involving corruption, violent crime, and fraud. He also conducted investigations, tried jury and bench trials, and argued before the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Craco began his career as a clerk for the Hon. John F. Keenan of the SDNY and entered private practice as a litigation associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell.
“Bill is a gifted litigator and brilliant strategic advisor with deep experience at the highest levels of the legal profession,” said Mark Racanelli, global co-chair of O’Melveny’s White Collar Defense & Corporate Investigations Practice Group. “His understanding of the unique challenges faced by large, international companies—combined with his commitment to public service and pro bono work—makes him an ideal addition to our team and an excellent resource for our clients. I previously worked with Bill during my time as an SDNY prosecutor, and I’m thrilled to work with him again at O’Melveny.”
“Bill’s decades of experience in the life sciences industry are a huge asset for O’Melveny, and our clients will immediately benefit from Bill’s seasoned perspective and proven track record of success,” added Ross Galin, co-chair of O’Melveny’s Life Sciences Industry Group.
“I’m delighted to join O’Melveny,” Craco said. “O’Melveny sets the standard for excellence, with an impressive global platform, a distinctive, collegial culture, and a commitment to helping clients achieve their most important goals, which extends to its award-winning pro bono practice. The firm is a perfect fit for me.”
Craco earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Fordham Law Review. He earned his B.A. from Williams College.
About O’Melveny
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Contact:
Brandon Jacobsen
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
+1 213 430 8024
bjacobsen@omm.com
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