R. Craig Scott
Chief Executive Officer and Founder

One thing the hundreds of executives he has represented like best about R. Craig Scott, is where he comes from professionally.  Mr. Scott is uniquely qualified to represent executives because of his over twenty-seven years representing employers.  Mr. Scott understands how employers typically deal with executives' employment issues.  And from that understanding, he has developed techniques and strategies to assist executives to cut the best deals possible, whether they are moving into, or out of, an employment situation. 

Evidence of Mr. Scott's distinguished career is found in the annual Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.) survey in which his peers have recognized him as one of California's top labor and employment law attorneys every year since 1996.  Mr. Scott has also been named a Southern California Super Lawyer by Los Angeles Magazine each year since the distinction was first announced in 2004.

Prior to establishing the management-side employment law firm of Scott & Whitehead in 1993, Mr. Scott was the partner leading the Orange County, California labor law practice of the 260 attorney law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton and, later, of the 50 attorney law firm of Pettis, Tester, Kruse & Krinsky.

For over five years, Mr. Scott authored a regular column, "Employment Law," in the Orange County Business Journal.  He has published over 75 columns and articles on labor and employment law issues for publications including the Orange County Employer Advisory Council's Advisor, Business-to-Business, Long Beach Business Journal, Personnel Administrator and Small Business Report.  He is the author or co-author of five books on employment law, including his recently published Severance Agreements: 6 Steps™ To A Better Deal, the first guidebook in a series of four focusing on severance and employment agreements.

In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. Scott takes pride in his involvement in community affairs within his city of residence, Laguna Hills, California.  In 1991, Mr. Scott was elected to the first City Council of the newly formed city and has served three terms as Mayor, in 1994, 1998 and 2000.  Mr. Scott remains an elected member of the Laguna Hills City Council and serves on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Fire Authority, and, its Executive Committee.  Mr. Scott graduated from the University of Utah's College of Law, where he received his J.D. Degree in 1978.  He was a Member (1976-1977) and Articles Editor (1977-1978) of the Utah Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Mr. Scott is listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2006 .