Douglas Gansler is head of Cadwalader’s State Attorneys General Practice. A former Attorney General of Maryland and president of the National Association of Attorneys General, Doug draws on more than 30 years of public advocacy and leadership in advising businesses and individuals facing federal and state investigations and enforcement actions, as well as civil and criminal matters involving state Attorneys General, the Department of Justice and other government agencies.
Doug represents clients in responding to and, when necessary, defending against AG inquiries from across the country, whether in civil lawsuits, regulatory investigations or both in matters involving financial services, health care, pharmaceutical, insurance, telecommunications and other consumer industries. He also handles complex litigation cases involving data breaches, cybersecurity, and privacy matters and provides regulatory compliance advice.
Doug was appointed by the Pennsylvania Attorney General as Special Deputy Attorney General to investigate the improper use of email by Pennsylvania state employees, and he has conducted internal investigations for numerous national corporations. Throughout his career, Doug has handled a range of civil and criminal cases involving public corruption, economic crimes and other issues, including:
- arguing and winning a unanimous decision before the U.S. Supreme Court in Maryland v. Shatzer
- acting as first chair in more than 50 jury trials
- the prosecution of John Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo (“Beltway snipers”)
- arguing more than 50 cases in state and federal appellate courts
In the public sector, Doug’s record of leadership includes:
- establishing the first statewide Internet Privacy and Safety Unit
- implementing the first State's Attorney’s Office community-based prosecution program, which became a nationwide model for effective, fair crime-fighting programs
- establishing the first domestic violence dockets, the first Gang Unit, and the first Elder Abuse Unit in Maryland
Doug has been recognized by Legal 500 in the areas of Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense, and Cyber Law (Data Protection and Privacy). In addition to serving as Attorney General of Maryland, he was Montgomery County’s State’s Attorney (1998-2006) and an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia (1992-98).
