Douglas S. Brooks

Douglas S. Brooks

Partner

About Douglas Brooks

Douglas S. Brooks, the firm's Managing Partner, focuses his practice primarily in the areas of white collar criminal defense, complex civil litigation and internal corporate investigations. He has successfully tried criminal and civil cases in both federal and state courts. In each year from 2013 to 2021, Doug was named one of the Top 100 lawyers in Massachusetts by Super Lawyers, a joint publication of Thomson Reuters and Boston Magazine.

Doug has successfully defended clients in criminal prosecutions and government investigations involving a variety of serious charges, including allegations of: healthcare fraud (including False Claims Act and anti-kickback allegations concerning medical device and pharmaceutical companies), public corruption, securities fraud, environmental crime, and tax fraud. Doug has also defended clients facing investigation and enforcement actions undertaken by the Securities Exchange Commission, the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Labor, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Massachusetts Securities Division. In addition, Doug has defended clients involved in administrative proceedings initiated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure.

In addition to this courtroom work, Doug has significant experience conducting comprehensive internal corporate investigations and advising his clients as to their rights and legal obligations stemming from the findings of the investigations. Specifically, Doug represents companies and individuals doing business internationally and conducts investigations and provides advice related to their compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Doug has extensive experience handling complex civil litigation as well. He is currently representing an airport security screening company in litigation arising out of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, one of the largest civil actions in the nation. He has also successfully represented various corporate and individual clients in litigation involving claims under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Uniform Commercial Code, federal and state civil rights acts, the securities laws and chapter 93A (the Massachusetts statute prohibiting unfair competition and unfair and deceptive acts and practices).

Doug's practice also includes handling appeals. He has successfully briefed and argued both criminal and civil matters before the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, and the Massachusetts Appellate Division.

Doug graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1997 and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society upon graduating in 1993 from Emory University. He has authored articles that have appeared in the Defense Counsel Journal and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

Each year from 2004 through 2021, Doug has been named one of the top lawyers in New England by Super Lawyers. The Super Lawyers comprise the top 5% of lawyers in the state. For more, go to: www.superlawyers.com.

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D. cum laude
Emory University

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts

Memberships

International Association of Defense Counsel, (Former Chair, White Collar Defense and Investigations Committee)
Boston Bar Association
American Bar Association

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
U.S. District Court, Massachusetts
U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia

Representative Cases:

  • Secured Judgment for defendant as lead trial counsel in a breach of contract dispute after a two-week jury trial in federal court in Washington, D.C. and successfully handled the appeal affirming the Judgment.
  • Secured not guilty verdict as first-chair in federal criminal trial for defendant facing minimum mandatory sentence of 47 years if convicted.
  • Obtained summary judgment for public figure client in high-profile case brought by the State Ethics Commission, based upon a first-of-its-kind defense in Massachusetts.
  • Secured dismissal of serious criminal charges before trial for executive of large investment bank, thus preventing unwanted media attention for client.
  • Obtained summary judgment, and recovery of legal fees, on all counts for client embroiled in business dispute with former partner in case brought in the Business Litigation Session in Massachusetts state court.
  • Obtained summary judgment, and recovery of legal fees, for local bank in matter involving the interpretation of the Uniform Commercial Code. Successfully argued and briefed the appeal which affirmed the trial court's ruling.
  • Represented former CFO of publicly held company in connection with criminal and civil options "backdating" investigation.
  • Represented local Town Official in high-profile federal civil rights action involving allegations of violation of the Fair Housing Act and defamation.