David L. Douglass is of counsel in Sheppard's' Governmental Practice and former Managing Partner of the firm's Washington, D.C. office.
Over his four-decade career, he has represented public and private companies and senior corporate executives in investigations and litigation. Through the range of his representations, David has earned a reputation as an effective litigator, strategic thinker, and trusted advisor, whom clients seek out to help them solve novel, complex, and often unprecedented legal, policy and business problems. Reflecting his innovative thinking, David co-founded Sheppard's Organizational Integrity Group, which helps businesses pursue business opportunities while minimizing legal, regulatory, and reputational risk. He is also an American Arbitration Association neutral.
As a former federal prosecutor and former Chair of the ABA Health Law Section, a significant portion of David's practice focuses on representing a wide range of companies in defending False Claims Act investigations and litigation, which a specialty in representing companies in the healthcare industry. A unique aspect of his practice is counseling companies negotiating acquisitions that are confronted with FCA investigations.
David's trial record has earned him the distinction of being named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a prestigious honor reserved for the most distinguished trial attorneys who exemplify the highest standards of ethical conduct and professionalism. David honed his trial skills as a former Assistant United States Attorney and Department of Justice Trial Attorney, where he investigated and prosecuted numerous criminal case in a variety of federal courts. He has employed those skills to successfully represent private and public companies achieve favorable litigation and trial results. Most recently, after a four-week trial, David achieved a favorable result in a False Claims Act Case brought by the Department of Justice against a Fortune 100 company when the government was awarded only approximately $50 million (approximately 5%) of the amount the government sought.
David's professional and life experiences have given him the ability to find common ground with diverse constituencies. In 2013, David was appointed by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana as deputy federal monitor over the New Orleans Police Department to guide and monitor the department's compliance with a Consent Decree obligating the department to transform its policing practices. In that capacity, David worked closely with community advocates and stakeholders to ensure their meaningful involvement in the consent decree reform process.
Arising from his work as a consent decree monitor, David co-founded and leads Effective Law Enforcement For All (ELEFA), a non-profit organization that partners with communities and their police agencies to adopt law enforcement practices that are safe for the police and the communities they serve. Recently, ELEFA has been entrusted with the significant responsibility of monitoring the Minneapolis Police Department under both state and federal consent decrees, a testament to David's expertise and dedication to building trust between police and historically marginalized communities.
David is deeply committed to advancing civil rights and promoting diversity within the legal profession. Through David's leadership as vice-chair of the ABA's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council from 2020-2023, the ABA adopted Resolution 102, which encourages all attorneys to devote at least 20 hours annually to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession. He was the inaugural recipient of the ABA Health Law Section's Champion of Diversity Award. He serves on the Board of the Washington Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, as well as the Advisory Board of the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession, where he contributes to fostering a more inclusive and equitable legal landscape. He previously served on the Board of Appleseed Foundation, a nonprofit network of 17 public interest justice centers in the U.S. and Mexico dedicated to building a society in which opportunities are genuine, access to the law is universal and equal, and government advances the public interest.
In summary, David Douglass's multifaceted career reflects a steadfast commitment to effective advocacy, upholding justice, promoting integrity, and driving positive change in the legal profession and in society.
