Doug's enthusiasm for his work as a trial lawyer allows him to constantly learn new things and to develop relationships with his clients to resolve complex disputes.
Overview
Steeped in all aspects of trial work, Doug has successfully worked with his clients in high stakes commercial, shareholder derivative, personal injury, wrongful death, toxic tort, products liability and class actions claims.
Doug is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and is Vice Chair of its Complex Litigation Committee. Recognized by Chambers USA as a top commercial litigator, Doug brings more than three decades of experience in trial work to a variety of settings and jurisdictions, including specialized work in the transportation, railroad, technology and manufacturing industries.
Doug gives back by serving on the board of the Kansas City chapter of the American Red Cross and the Shawnee Mission School District Committee for Excellence.
Experience
Doug defended a major pharmaceutical manufacturer against antitrust allegations arising from the settlement of patent litigation.
Doug handled the seminal Missouri Supreme Court O'Malley case which established attorney work product opinion protection.
News & Insights
News
Publications
Co-editor "Demonstrative Aids at Trial," Complex Litigation Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Bloomberg BNA, 2017
Recognitions
Recognitions
Selected as a "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America©, Kansas City, Missouri, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, 2018
Selected as a "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America, Kansas City, Missouri, Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants, 2017
Recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America in Railroad Law
Selected among The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation and Railroad Law, 2005 - 2019
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, Complex Litigation Committee
Selected as a "Top 100" by Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers®, 2016
Selected as a “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America, Kansas City, Missouri, Railroad Law, 2014
Selected as a Missouri’s “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark Litigation
Selected to the Super Lawyers list, Corporate Counsel Edition
Martindale-Hubbell® “AV” Trial Rating
Named to Best of the United States, Lawyer Section
Selected by The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation and Railroad Law, 2011 - 2012
Recognized each year since 2004 as one of America’s Leading Business Lawyers by Chambers USA. Doug is ranked in Band 1 for General Commercial Litigation for the Kansas City and surrounding area.
Selected to the Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list, 2005 - 2019
Selected for Best Attorneys Network Directory, 2005
Elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, 2007
Named "Best of the Bar" by the Kansas City Business Journal, 2004 - 2012, 2015 - 2017
Selected as a “Top Lawyer Under 40” by Missouri Lawyers Weekly newspaper
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Fellow
American Board of Trial Advocates, Western Missouri Chapter, President, 2015-16
Kansas Bar Association
Missouri Bar
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Adjunct Professor, Trial Practice, University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School, 1993-2001
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Kansas
- Missouri
- U.S. Court of Appeal for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeal for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeal for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois,
- U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
Education
Stanford Law School, J.D., 1985
- Recipient, R. Hunter Summers Trial Practice Award, Stanford Law School, 1985
University of Kansas, B.S., with highest distinction, 1982
- Summerfield Scholar Award as top graduate of 1982 School of Business
