Email: dotto@darroweverett.com
Douglas B. Otto is a Partner and a Practice Leader for DarrowEverett’s Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. He is an experienced, broad-based litigator and trial attorney who concentrates his practice in complex business and commercial law, with a proven track record of successfully litigating claims based on unfair competition, fraud, and antitrust violations, false advertising, theft of trade secrets, invasions of privacy and the misappropriation of confidential and proprietary business information. Doug defends product and equipment manufacturers and has a wide array of clients from the life sciences, pharmaceutical, medical device, biotech, energy, and technology-based industries. He has tried cases to both judge and jury, across numerous state and federal court jurisdictions, has presented oral argument to our Nation’s 2nd highest court, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., and has experience before various federal and state administrative agencies; and, he has successfully arbitrated matters arising out of private-sector disputes.
Successful client representation in numerous contract, business, shareholder and partnership disputes involving financial institutions; insurance agencies; real estate and investment companies; construction trades; product manufacturers; and, technology companies.
Obtained summary judgement on behalf of drug-testing company and corporate officers against claims of anti-competitive behavior and unfair competition.
Successful prosecution and defense of numerous patent, trademark and copyright infringement actions. Client representation includes litigation of licensing disputes.
Successful defense of numerous creditors across multiple jurisdictions in bankruptcy adversary proceedings for avoidance of preferential and fraudulent transfers and conveyances, including representation in some of the nation’s largest bankruptcy proceedings, such as WorldCom; Allegiance Telecom; XO Communications; MicroAge; Enron; Global Crossing; CIT Group; SonicBlue; A.B. Dick; Gitto Global and Eastman Kodak.
Successful defense of national client companies against product liability claims resulting in fire, injury and death involving consumer and commercial appliances; sporting goods; and heavy machinery.
Doug’s litigation and transactional experience extend to matters of commercial finance, secured lending, workouts, venture capital, licensing, mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate, shareholder disputes, and issues of lender liability involving both private and commercial lenders. His bankruptcy practice focuses on creditors’ rights and representing creditors in the context of business reorganizations. His creditor-side representation in contested matters is geared toward protecting secured claims and other priority interests.
In addition, Doug partners with his clients to provide outside general counsel, conferring on planning and business initiatives. He manages risk and advises on matters involving corporate governance; employment policy; commercial drafting; financing; and the validity of patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Doug is fully committed to finding practical solutions that meet the business needs of his clients. He is a frequent guest lecturer for various business and industry trade groups.
Early in his career, Doug was a Partner at a large Northeast regional firm where he first specialized in product liability and toxic tort defense, after which he transitioned to the firm’s business litigation group where he developed into a department leader. Doug later moved his practice to a mid-size firm where his primary focus continued to be litigating and resolving business disputes.