Distinguished Appellate Judge the Honorable Douglas S. Lang
DALLAS, TEXAS. – (April 8, 2019) – International law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP is pleased to announce that Douglas S. Lang, a former Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Texas, has joined the Firm’s Commercial Litigation practice group as Of Counsel in Dallas.
Justice Lang served for over 16 years on the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas. That 13 Judge appellate court has the highest case volume of the 14 intermediate appellate courts in Texas. While on the court, Justice Lang authored more than 2,100 opinions and participated in more than 6,100 case decisions. During that same period, Justice Lang served for six years as a member of the Texas Multi-District Litigation Panel and as Chair of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct. Prior to his judicial service, Justice Lang was a litigation partner at the Texas firm Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP (now Foley Gardere).
Justice Lang is renowned and highly respected for his tireless leadership in bar and community activities, his dedication to mentoring young lawyers, and his devotion to civility and ethics in the legal profession during his more than 40 year career. Justice Lang’s belief in the importance of mentoring led him to author Deeds, Not Words—Mentors As Guiding Lights of Integrity In The Legal Profession, a compilation of experiences recounted to him by a variety of bar leaders, judges, and successful attorneys. Further, Justice Lang is a frequent speaker at civic and continuing education events around Texas and nationally and has many published articles to his credit on appellate law, civility, and ethics.
He is extremely active in the local Dallas business and legal communities. Since 1992, Justice Lang has been a member of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, Inc., which is comprised of Dallas’ top business and legal leaders.
Justice Lang has led many local, state, and national organizations including serving as President of the Dallas Bar Association, President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents of the American Bar Association, President of the Drake University National Alumni Association, and Chair of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics. Currently, Justice Lang serves as a member of the Drake University Board of Trustees. Additionally, he is an elected member of the American Law Institute. The membership of the Institute engages in the study, analysis, and publication of commentaries on principles of the law.
Dorsey opened its Dallas office in February 2017, with a highly successful group focused on mezzanine finance and private equity transactions. The office has grown steadily since that time, adding additional corporate transactional attorneys and an accomplished litigation team.
“Doug’s legal prowess is well-known and respected in Dallas, Texas and the national legal community,” noted Bill Stoeri, Managing Partner of Dorsey & Whitney. “We’re excited to have Doug join our Trial Group and add such an accomplished former jurist to our team. He is a key addition to the outstanding litigation and appellate capabilities already in Dorsey’s Dallas office.”
“I am excited to join Dorsey and return to private practice,” Justice Lang commented. “I look forward to offering my extensive litigation and appellate experience and expertise to clients when they are seeking the greatest advantage in the courtroom and before appellate courts.”
