Craig H. Johnson
Craig Johnson focuses his practice primarily in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, business and corporate transactions, as well as estate planning and estate and trust administration. He has had much experience in the formation of business entities including corporations, partnerships, LLCs and LLPs as well as the drafting of related agreements such as buy-sell agreements and operating agreements. He has also had much experience in handling the sale of business entities and the sale of assets of business entities. As part of the corporate practice, he has represented business entities in financing transactions and has handled numerous sales and acquisitions of commercial real estate.
Mr. Johnson also practices in the area of estate planning and estate and trust administration. He has prepared estate planning documents for high net worth clients who seek to minimize exposure to estate taxes and maximize flexibility in planning. Mr. Johnson is fully familiar with the probate process and has handled estate proceedings in numerous counties across New York State.
In addition to Mr. Johnson's practice at Watson Bennett, he has represented the Town of Tonawanda as Deputy Town Attorney from 1983 through 1997 and then as Town Attorney from 1998 through 2005. His responsibilities included the overall management of the Town Legal Department, regular attendance at Town Board Meetings (public and nonpublic meetings and executive sessions) and daily interaction with elected officials, appointed officials and department heads at local, county, state and federal government levels. As the Town Attorney, Mr. Johnson managed and monitored litigation handled by the Office of the Town Attorney as well as litigation handled by outside counsel.
Mr. Johnson is a Martindale-Hubbell AV rated attorney.
Education/Admitted to Practice:
- State University of New York at Buffalo, J.D., 1978
- Kent State University, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1974
- State of New York, admitted 1979
Civic/Professional Memberships:
- Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Chamber of Commerce, former Director
- New York State Bar Association
- Erie County Bar Association
Practice Areas :
- Municipal Law
- Real Estate
- Corporate and Business Law
- Estate Planning and Estate & Trust Administration
Email: cjohnson@watsonbennett.com
