Craig's practice is a broad mix of problem solving for businesses and individuals, business advising as well as matters that involve corporate, personal and professional litigation. He acts as the general counsel for corporations in west Michigan for which he provides a wide variety of counsel and advice. The focus of these business engagements is to help them keep their eye on their core competencies while matters that require Craig's expertise are handled carefully, expeditiously and as if the client's resources were his own. In addition, Craig provides counsel in matters that effect individuals and families including family law and probate litigation.

As national counsel for an auto manufacturer in a particular class of cases involving light trucks he has handled cases across the country and has significant experience in the defense of product liability and other personal injury cases. Recently, he has devoted a significant amount of time to economic issues in catastrophic cases. Craig is also asked to represent lawyers when they become embroiled in issues before the courts or disciplinary agencies.

Born and raised in Western New York, Craig came to Hope College in Holland, Michigan and then after graduating in 1971, he returned to the State of New York to study law at Union University's Albany College of Law. Then, it was back to West Michigan and a three year stint as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Kent County Prosecutor's office where he tried cases in courts throughout the county and also handled matters in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. When the opportunity arose to join Smith Haughey, even though he was a partner by that time in another local firm, he jumped at the chance.

"I wanted to practice with a firm that had great vitality and that afforded the opportunity to work with clients around the country and around the world. Smith Haughey has never been hung up on the trappings of high-end art work and white shoes. Its lawyers know how to roll up their sleeves and get the job done."
- Craig S. Neckers

Craig and his wife Joan, who is a resource room teacher at Rockford Christian School, have lived on the northeast side of Grand Rapids since 1975. Their son, Joel, and his wife, Kimberly, live in Denver where Joel practices law and Kimberly uses her law degree in the real estate business. Their son, Todd, is a lawyer practicing in Grand Rapids while Scott is in law school at the University of Denver after a short career with the State Department's Office of Diplomatic Security. Craig has taken an active role in the boys' academic and athletic careers as a member of the local school board and the Grand Rapids Christian School Association's Board of Trustees. He has also served on the Board of Trustees at Western Seminary in Holland, The Fountain Hill Center in Grand Rapids and as an Elder and in many other capacities at Central Reformed Church.

He is an active member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. He has chaired its Law Firm Management Conference, the Commercial Litigation Section and he is presently the chair of its Management, Economics and Technology of Law Section as well as a vice chair of the Projects and Objectives Committee and a member of the Admissions Committee.

Noteworthy

• AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
• Listed as a "Michigan Super Lawyer" (2006-2011) -- Business Litigation
• Listed in Best Lawyers (2011-2012) -- Commercial Litigation

Education

• Hope College (B.A., 1971)
• Albany Law School of Union University (J.D., 1974)

Admitted to Practice

• State Bar of Michigan, 1974

Previous Professional Experience

• Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Kent County, 1975-1977

Presentations

• "Damages Under the Uniform Commercial Code," Commercial Litigation Section of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, presented at the 2008 Winter Meeting

Client Successes for Craig S. Neckers

• 7/1/2009
  Craig Neckers, Bill Henn, and Mark Gilchrist successfully represented our client, a divorce attorney, in a legal malpractice case that went before the Court of Appeals.
• 3/1/2009
  Craig Neckers secured a summary dismissal of a 68-paragraph grievance filed with the Attorney Grievance Commission.
• 8/1/2007
  Craig Neckers completed the preparation of an International Distributor and License Agreement for a U. S. based furniture company with a Japanese distributor which will assist the company in expanding its global market.
• 4/1/2007
  Mark Gilchrist drafted and Craig Neckers argued a motion for summary disposition in a legal malpractice case in Wexford County arising out of a divorce representation. The court determined the plaintiff was collaterally estopped from presenting her case to the jury because the claim could have been raised in a previous suit – which we also successfully defended.

External Publications

• "The Opponent's Expert: Preparing for the Most Important Deposition in the Case," FDCC Quarterly, Vol. 59, No. 2, Winter 2009.
• "Michigan's Discount Rate: 5.0% Non-compounded and Unfair?" Michigan Defense Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 3, January 2009
• "A Practical Resource for Managing UCC-Based Litigation," FDCC Quarterly, Vol. 58, No. 4, Summer 2008.
• "Daubert and the Soft Sciences: Can a Forensic Economist Ever Make it past the GateKeeper?" Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Fall 2006
• "Managing UCC-Based Litigation: A Practitioner's Guide," Michigan Defense Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 1, July 2008

Smith Haughey Publications

Type	Date	Title
Legal Alert	8/20/2010	Medical Malpractice Update (August 2010)
Newsletter	1/1/2002	This edition of the SHRR quarterly newsletter introduces the firm's new Ann Arbor office and brand-new web site!
Newsletter	6/1/2001	SHRR's Summer newsletter
Newsletter	3/1/2001	SHRR's Spring newsletter includes articles on tax law, "first impressions" and community involvement of the attorneys and staff

News for Craig S. Neckers

12/16/2011
Smith Haughey Lawyers Names “Super Lawyers”

9/14/2011
Smith Haughey and its Attorneys Voted "Best" By Their Peers

10/7/2010
Smith Haughey Lawyers Named "Super Lawyers"

8/30/2010
Smith Haughey and its Attorneys Voted "Best" By Their Peers

1/14/2010
Smith Haughey Announces New CEO, Shareholders, and Board of Directors

9/17/2009
Smith Haughey Lawyers Named "Super Lawyers"

5/1/2009
A National Legal Journal Publishes Article Written By Smith Haughey Attorneys

2/17/2009
Neckers Appointed to the Faculty of the Litigation Management College

12/17/2008
Board of Directors Elected to Lead Smith Haughey in the New Year

9/25/2008
Smith Haughey Lawyers Named "Super Lawyers"

9/4/2008
Several Smith Haughey Attorneys Recently Published in External Publications.

8/27/2008
SHRR Attorneys Earn Appointments to FDCC

2/18/2008
Smith Haughey's Client Country Dairy Featured in the Grand Rapids Press

12/20/2007
Board of Directors Elected to Lead Smith Haughey in the New Year

9/24/2007
Smith Haughey Lawyers Named "Super Lawyers"

1/8/2007
Article Authored by Smith Haughey Attorneys Published in FDCC Quarterly

10/26/2006
SHRR Lawyers are Super

11/9/2005
Craig Neckers Appointed Chairman of FDCC Commercial Litigation Section

1/8/2002
Craig Neckers Appointed

1/1/2002
New Office Opens

1/1/2002
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Holds Annual Elections

Professional Affiliations

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Michigan
• Member, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (Immediate past chair — Commercial Litigation Section, Vice Chair — Projects and Objectives Committee, Vice Chair — Management, Economics and Technology of Practice Section)

Community Affiliations

• Board of Trustees, Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI
• Board of Trustees, Grand Rapids Christian Schools
• Board of Benefit Services, Reformed Church in America