Doug has extensive litigation and mediation experience involving high-profile corporate technology cases such as data breaches, cybersecurity, electronic discovery issues, and domain name disputes. Certified as an Intellectual Property (IP) Law Specialist by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, he has expertise in all aspects patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters. He represents corporations, municipalities, nonprofits, start-ups, and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries, including technology, health care, law enforcement, and manufacturing, and is a founding member of Shumaker's Data Breach Team.
Doug also consults clients on the following:
- Publicity rights, unfair competition, acquisition, and licensing litigation
- Technology, cybersecurity, and data breach law
- Computer consulting (aided by his fluency in many programming languages)
- Database and network management, expert systems, simulation design, and various software packages
Doug is a frequent author and interview subject on IP and cybersecurity/data breach issues.
Education
J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law, 2000
B.S., University of Florida, 1997
Professional Associations
- Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation, Business Recruitment, Retention & Expansion (BR2E) Committee
- The Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court, Immediate Past President (2019-2020), Member
- Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, Investor Relations Committee
- Pines of Sarasota Management Corporation, Board of Directors (2023-2025)
- Sarasota County Bar Association, Past President, Member
- Computer & Technology Law Committee of The Florida Bar, Past-Chair
- Intellectual Property Committee of The Florida Bar, Member
- Business Law Section (BLS) of The Florida Bar, Executive Council
- The Florida Bar BLS Computer Law Committee, Past President, Member
- The Florida Bar BLS Intellectual Property Law Committee, Member
- The Florida Bar BLS eDiscovery Committee, Past Chair, Member
- The Florida Bar BLS Civil Rules Subcommittee on Electronic Discovery, Past Chair
- Florida Statewide E-Filing Committee and Records Workgroup, Past BLS Representative
- Suncoast Technology Forum, Past Director and Officer
- Sarasota County Bar Young Lawyers Division, Past-President
- Sarasota County Bar Technology Committee, Past-Chair
- Sarasota County Bar E-Filing Committee, Past-Chair
- Sarasota County Bar’s monthly newspaper, The Docket, Past Editor, 2004-2005
- Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Past Member of Small Business Council
Honors
- WTR 1000: the World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, 2024
- Florida Legal Elite by Florida Trend magazine, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021
- SRQ Magazine: Elite Top Attorneys, Intellectual Property Rights, 2020-2022
- AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Intellectual Property
- Florida Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine, 2013-2024
- Best Lawyers in America, 2015-2024
- Florida Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine, 2010
- 25 “People to Watch” by biz941 magazine, 2008
- C.L. McKaig Award in recognition of distinguished service to the Sarasota County Bar Association, 2004
Representative Matters
- Represents a nationwide and international producer of dairy products regarding intellectual property protection and enforcement, as well as its technology and marketing-related transactional matters.
- Represents numerous software developers with regarding to technology licensing agreements.
- Represents a nationwide manufacturer and seller of drinkware products regarding intellectual property matters (transactional and litigation).
- Represents a nationwide manufacturer and seller of automotive wheels regarding intellectual property matters (transactional and litigation).
- Represents an official tourism marketing entity and provider of county tourism information regarding intellectual property matters (transactional and litigation).
- Represents a large regional real estate brokerage company regarding intellectual property and technology matters.
- Represents an e-commerce provider of medical products regarding intellectual property and technology matters.