This website uses cookies. By using this website, you agree to our Cookie Policy.
Douglas Gansler is head of Cadwalader’s State Attorney General Practice. A former Attorney General of Maryland and president of the National Association of Attorneys General, Doug draws on 35 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 is viewed as a problem-solver and successfully handles a broad array of general civil and criminal litigation matters.
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-facing industries. He also handles complex litigation cases involving procurement, Title IX, and state and federal criminal matters, and multistate matters and provides regulatory compliance advice.
After serving for 23 years in government, Doug was appointed by the Pennsylvania Attorney General as Special Deputy Attorney General to investigate the improper use of email by Pennsylvania judges and 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 and 100 bench 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, the first Civil Rights Unit, and the first Elder Abuse Unit in Maryland
Doug has been recognized by Chambers USA for his State Attorneys General practice, Legal 500 in the areas of Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense, and Cyber Law (Data Protection and Privacy). Doug has been named a 2024 “Leader in Law” by The Daily Record and the Maryland State Bar Association. He was also named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America guide. 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).
A life-long community volunteer, Doug founded Charm City Youth Lacrosse for underserved Baltimore inner-city youth, for which he received the “Innovator of the Year” award from the Daily Record, Maryland's largest legal publication. He has mentored at-risk area youth, served on the Montgomery County Commission on Aging, and co-chaired the NAACP Criminal Justice Committee. Doug also serves as an Adjunct Professor at American University's Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.
Doug received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his B.A. from Yale University, cum laude, where he was a four-year starter, All-Ivy and first team All-New England lacrosse player. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and various federal courts.
