Attorneys

Craig A. Wagner
President of the Firm & Shareholder

Craig Wagner completed his undergraduate work at Tufts University in 1973 (B.A., magna cum laude) and graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1976.  At Virginia, Craig served on the Editorial Board of the University of Virginia Law Review and is a Member of the Order of the Coif.

Immediately after his graduation from the University of Virginia School of Law in June, 1976, Craig began his legal career as an associate with the Atlanta law firm of Troutman, Sanders, Lockerman & Ashmore. During his five years at Troutman Sanders, Craig rose to the level of Senior Corporate Associate. While at Troutman, Sanders, Craig provided primary corporate and partnership support to the firm's Commercial Real Estate Section.

In June, 1981, Craig, together with four Troutman, Sanders commercial real estate attorneys, formed the Atlanta law firm of McRae & Holloway, P.C. Craig's motivation in starting a smaller firm was to develop expertise in the commercial real estate area and to practice law in a more entrepreneurial setting. This Firm, whose name would later change to McRae, Lambrecht & Wagner, P.C., grew to eighteen lawyers, and broadened its practice areas to include Commercial Litigation, Commercial Lending and Employment Law. On January 1, 1992, the Firm was renamed Wagner & Johnston, P.C. and "restarted" its existence with five attorneys. In 1996, Mike Rosenthal became a shareholder and the Firm's name changed to Wagner, Johnston & Rosenthal, P.C.

Craig’s practice continues to be based in the transactional and commercial real estate practice areas. In 1999, one of Craig’s longtime clients fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a part owner of an NBA team. Through that relationship, Craig became outside general counsel to the New Orleans Hornets (formerly known as the Charlotte Hornets). Craig represented the Hornets, initially in their efforts to cause a new arena to be built in Charlotte and then in the Hornets’ relocation to New Orleans. Craig served as a key member of the Team’s relocation negotiating group which considered several cities as potential relocation sites before selecting New Orleans in January, 2002. Craig was heavily involved in negotiating the Team’s Lease at the New Orleans Arena, negotiating the Team’s Broadcast Agreement with Cox Communications and preparing and negotiating the various Suite License Agreements and Sponsorship Agreements utilized by the Team with its premium seatholders and founding sponsors.

Craig's involvement with the Hornets' relocation to New Orleans has resulted in his current representation of clients engaged in commercial real estate activities in the New Orleans area and in the Mississippi Gulf Coast region. Craig's clients are heavily involved in the rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Craig enjoys working closely with clients in their business planning, strategy development, contract negotiation and subsequent legal execution. He represents a broad spectrum of clients, including communications and telecommunications concerns, commercial real estate developers, clients in the entertainment business and entrepreneurs engaged in a myriad of businesses.