For twenty years Doug has focused his practice on white-collar criminal matters and civil litigation. He has represented businesses and individuals, including attorneys, doctors, accountants, securities analysts, and government agents in matters involving fraud (including business fraud, health care fraud, securities fraud, mail and telemarketing fraud, government contract fraud, bank fraud, and insurance fraud), state and federal campaign finance violations, antitrust violations, insider trading, environmental crimes, tax evasion, money laundering, perjury and obstruction of justice, and RICO investigations and prosecutions conducted by federal and state authorities.

Doug has advised and represented companies in criminal investigations involving workplace deaths, bribery of government officials, undocumented alien employees, theft of trade secrets and corporate espionage, the sale of pharmaceuticals over the internet, student loan practices, and environmental violations including illegal discharges of oil by vessels on the high seas and the Great Lakes. He has conducted internal corporate investigations in many of these matters, as well as in cases of internal theft and fraud. In civil matters, Doug has represented parties in contract disputes involving derivative securities, the sale of businesses, and disputes between owners, as well as in actions involving civil RICO, cable television piracy, and allegations of corporate theft and misappropriation of assets.

Doug entered private practice after 10 years as senior special attorney and deputy chief of the U.S. Department of Justice, Organized Crime Strike Force for the Eastern District of New York. He was the chief prosecutor in a series of successful RICO cases brought against the hierarchy of the Gambino organized crime family. He also tried and convicted the acting boss of the Colombo organized crime family, and he convicted a number of officials in the New York City carpenters' union of labor racketeering and receipt of illegal labor payoffs.

Before joining the Justice Department in 1980, Doug was an assistant district attorney for four and one half years in the Kings County District Attorney's office, where he handled jury trials and criminal appeals in matters involving homicides and other serious felonies.

Doug is admitted to practice in the state of New York and before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the district courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He has appeared in other courts throughout the United States.

Education

  • Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1975
  • Colgate University, B.A., 1972

Representative Matters

  • Won mid-trial dismissal of retired FBI Supervisor charged with four counts of murder.
  • Secured pre-trial dismissal of federal wire fraud indictment brought against hedge fund analyst charged with theft and embezzlement.
  • Successfully defended elected state public official in federal investigation into campaign finance irregularities.
  • Won acquittal of owner of tugboats and barges in federal criminal prosecution alleging illegal discharges of municipal waste in New York harbor.
  • Won acquittal of owner of onshore oil tank facility in federal criminal prosecution alleging illegal storage of PCB contaminated oil.
  • Represented prominent businessman in prosecution for insider trading.
  • Successfully defended businessmen in federal antitrust investigations in the metal flake and fur pelt industries.
  • Represented businessman in prosecution involving federal campaign finance violations during the 2004 presidential campaign.
  • Represented Chief Engineer of ocean going tanker in prosecution for obstruction of justice and illegal discharges of oil.
  • Represented rare coin dealer in federal criminal prosecution for conspiracy and mail fraud.

  • Internal Investigations:
  • Worldwide shipping company accused of illegal discharges of oily waste from cargo ship.
  • Fortune 500 manufacturer being investigated for corporate espionage.
  • Manufacturer victimized by employee theft of formulas.
  • Regional bank accused of deficient lending practices.
  • Accounting firm accused of altering audit conclusions.
  • Computer hardware distributor victimized by employee theft.
  • Clothing importer and manufacturer accused of hiring undocumented aliens.

Professional & Civic Involvement

Professional Associations

New York City Bar Association · Inns of Court

Professional Activities

Eastern District Civil Litigation Fund · Board of Trustees

Community Activities

City Island Yacht Club · Board of Directors

Presentations

  • Lecturer, "The Uproar over Student Loans: What's Next", Education Finance Council, Washington, D.C., July 11, 2007
  • Lecturer, "Federal Sentencing after Booker", Trial.com Litigation Management Review, August 2005
  • Lecturer, "Corporate Scandals and Securities Litigation Implications", American Society of Corporate Secretaries, Cleveland, Ohio Chapter, November 2004
  • Guest Lecturer, "What to Do When the Government Knocks on the Door", Trial.com Litigation Management Review, New York City, August 2003
  • Guest Instructor, Fordham Law School Trial Advocacy Program
  • Guest Instructor, Kings County District Attorney’s Office Trial Advocacy program

Awards & Honors

  • Selected for The Best Lawyers in America, White-Collar Crime, 2006-2008
  • Selected for New York Super Lawyers magazine for Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Business Litigation, 2006, 2007, 2008