Douglas Raines

Doug draws on more than 15 years as a litigator and has represented clients in a variety of general commercial cases, including breach of contract, tort, statutory claims and shareholder disputes. He also has an extensive insurance coverage practice and has represented insurers in both first-party and third-party actions. Doug makes it a priority to delve into a client’s business needs in order to understand what’s truly the best and most practical solution from the client’s perspective. He was drawn to a legal career partly because he saw it as an opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of how businesses operate—a topic that continues to fascinate him.

Known for his analytical and problem-solving skills, Doug has also built a reputation for a pragmatic approach to litigation, as well as an ability to weigh both details and the bigger picture. He makes a point of drilling down into the minutiae of a case while still considering the larger implications of a legal strategy and the potential effects of the case on the client’s overall business.

While Doug continues to handle commercial litigation, he is focused increasingly on appellate work, recently litigating three separate appeals before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a single court term. Doug enjoys the intellectual challenge of litigation and appellate work, describing the process of putting together a solid brief as akin to assembling a jigsaw puzzle. He’s excited about digging into cases and the relevant law, and he especially loves appellate law for its intellectual challenge. Before entering private practice, Doug served as the law clerk for the Hon. Patience D. Roggensack of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Doug is the author or co-author of multiple law review articles.  His work on affirmative action jurisprudence, New Federalism and Wisconsin’s risk contribution doctrine has been published in the Marquette Law Review, Boston University Law Review and Pace Environmental Law Review, respectively.