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Bio
With extensive experience leading teams of lawyers in nationwide, bet-the-company litigation matters at trial and on appeal — including playing a key role in numerous high-profile matters before the U.S. Supreme Court — Douglas Dunham is a sophisticated strategist and diligent advocate for clients across industries.
Doug has devoted a significant portion of his career to federal and state appellate practice and continues to serve as a go-to resource for clients on these matters. He has appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court in connection with 27 matters and has supervised and authored numerous certiorari petitions and curiae briefs.
Doug focuses his practice on class actions, product liability, and other complex commercial litigation matters, and he has significant experience in insurance, pharmaceutical, and transportation matters. He has defended clients against consumer fraud claims, claims involving insurance sales practices, and claims of personal injury as the result of exposure to, or the consumption of, asbestos, tobacco, and alcoholic beverages. Doug counsels clients including universities and hospitals on how to minimize exposure to potential liability. He has also represented clients in federal securities, environmental, commercial, employment, discrimination, and white collar criminal litigation.
Doug is the chair of Governor Kathy Hochul’s New York State Judicial Screening Committee. He also serves as a member of the board of trustees for the New York State Interest on Lawyers Accounts Fund.
Experience
Representative Engagements
- Successful supervision and preparation of a petition for writ of certiorari and merits briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark case on behalf of a leading insurer regarding federal constitutional limitations on punitive damages.
- Metro-North Commuter Railroad Co. in the successful supervision and preparation of a petition for writ of certiorari and merits briefs in Metro-North Commuter Railroad Co. v. Buckley, 521 U.S. 424 (1997), in which the U.S. Supreme Court addressed limitations on emotional distress and medical monitoring claims under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
- Submission of numerous amicus curiae briefs in cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Morrison v. National Australia Bank Ltd. (2010) (counsel of record); General Motors Corp. v. Bryant (2009); Safeco Insurance Company of America v. Burr (2007); Philip Morris USA v. Williams (2007); and Ford Motor Co. v. Smith (2003).
- Represented a leading insurer in several federal and state appellate and trial courts across the country, including supervision and preparation of winning appellate briefs in the Illinois Supreme Court, which resulted in reversal of a $1.1 billion judgment against the insurer; in the Ohio Supreme Court, which reversed certification of a 100,000-member class seeking to recover $100 million, and in the California Appellate Court, which affirmed summary judgment for the insurer in a certified nationwide class action contending the insurer had up to $47 billion in excess surplus.
- MetLife in directing legal defense at appellate and trial court levels against numerous class actions and individual lawsuits regarding premiums and interest rates in life insurance policies.
- Directing legal defense at appellate and trial court levels of numerous property and other claims on behalf of another major P & C insurer, with many significant victories.
Credentials
Education
Columbia Law School, J.D., 1987Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
Columbia Law Review, Research Editor (1985-1987)
Harvard University, M.A., American History, 1984
Phi Beta Kappa
Harvard University, B.A., History with Government, 1983, magna cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions
New York
Professional Memberships
New York State Judicial Screening Committee for the Appellate DivisionSecond Department Chair (2011-present)
New York State Judicial Screening Committee for the Court of Claims
New York State Bar Association Special Committee on Federal Legislative Priorities
New York Interest on Lawyers Account Fund
Board of Trustees (2007-present)
Honors & Awards
Client Service All-Star, BTI Consulting Group (2022)Publications & Presentations