Craig Daniel Tobin

Craig Tobin has been voted, by his peers to "The Best Lawyers in America," "Leading Lawyers" and "Leading American Lawyers." His impressive trial successes in precedent-setting civil and criminal cases is why he is recognized nationally as one of the best trial lawyers in America.

Tobin has guided numerous clients through cases which attract intensive media coverage and have changed or defined the law.

Tobin began his career in the Cook County Public Defender's Office on the Murder Task Force. He tried numerous capital cases, and achieved an unprecedented number of acquittals in high profile cases. Mr. Tobin is an instructor and faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA). NITA is a premier provider of trial skills, training seminars and litigation-related publications for attorneys. He has given numerous lectures on the art of cross-examination and closing arguments.

Tobin founded Craig D. Tobin & Associates in 1985 when he left the Homicide Task Force of the Cook County Public Defender's Office. He was joined by the late Honorable Robert J. Collins (1911 - 1997). For over 25 years, Judge Collins sat as a felony court judge and also heard complex civil litigation. Prior to becoming a judge, Judge Collins was a well respected attorney who was the 1st Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago. Judge Collins argued landmark cases on behalf of the city before the Illinois and US Supreme Court. Judge Collins was called by bar associations and the Chicago Tribune "the standard by which all other judges are to be measured."

Craig Tobin is regularly featured in publications including the Chicago Tribune and American Bar Journal. He graduated from Chicago Kent College of Law in 1980 with high honors and the University of Illinois/Chicago in 1976 with honors. He is a member of Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA).

Representative Cases

• Ebro v. LaPreferida

Representative Clients

• Near North Insurance Brokerage

• Jeremiah Mearday

• Demarco Alexander

Classes/Seminars

• Instructor, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1989 - 1994

• Lecturer, The Art of Cross-Examination, Training Seminar, Cook County Public Defender, 1992

• Speaker, Illinois Continuing Legal Education, 1989

• Cross-Examination and Closing Arguments, Illinois Public Defenders Association, 1987

• Lecturer, Effective Closing Arguments, Cook County Public Defender's Office, 1983

Honors and Awards

• Selected to Illinois Super Lawyers , 2006 - 2017

• Super Lawyers Illinois Top 100, 2009 and 2010

• National Trial Lawyers Top 100

• National Association of Distinguished Council Top 1%

• Best Lawyers in America

• Leading Lawyers

• Leading American Lawyers

• Legal Leaders Highest Ethical and Legal Ability, 1995 - 2016

• Fellow and State Co-Chair for Litigation Council of America

• Law Bulletin Publishing Company's Leading Lawyers for Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Civil Rights, and Commercial Litigation

Professional Associations and Memberships

• National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Faculty Member, 1989 - 1996

• Chicago Bar Association, Member

• Illinois State Bar Association, Member

• American Bar Association, Member

Past Employment Positions

• Cook County Public Defender's Office, Homicide Task Force, Trial Attorney, 1982 - 1985

• Cook County Public Defender's Office, Felony Division, Trial Attorney, 1980 - 1982