Douglas R. Williams

Boats have always been a major presence in Doug's life. His father, a retired member of the armed forces, sailed as the chief medical officer with many popular cruise lines. While other children spent their summers at camp, Doug spent a large portion of his childhood sailing with his father in the North Pacific and Caribbean oceans, meaning his practical knowledge of ship life began decades before he began working on maritime cases.

Doug gained a solid educational foundation at Washington & Lee University in Virginia. His natural love of debate and compassion were encouraged in this historical setting. After undergrad, Doug excelled during his studies at Florida State University, where he earned his Juris Doctor and graduated magna cum laude in 2005. Doug was in the top ten percent of his class and was also admitted into the prestigious legal honor society, the Order of the Coif. Doug also had the opportunity to clerk for Judge Padovano in Florida's First District Court of Appeals while still a law school student.

Upon earning his bar license in Florida, Doug began to hone his skills as an associate with one of the most prominent maritime law firms in the Southeast. This position allowed him to travel to various ports along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean to investigate maritime accidents. Doug also had the opportunity to work on one of the most influential seamen's cases in the past twenty years, Atlantic Sounding Co. v. Townsend.

In 2011, Doug and his wife moved to Washington State, where Doug continued on with his passion for maritime law by working at a Seattle maritime firm, defending commercial fishing companies and cruise lines against personal injury. He also represented his clients defending wrongful death claims in maritime cases in Seattle, WA, and the surrounding areas.

This position gave him a strong insight into the tactics used most to deny claims for plaintiffs. Doug applied this knowledge after joining BoatLaw, LLP, a plaintiff maritime law firm with offices in Washington, California, and Oregon.

Today, Doug is a partner at BoatLaw, LLP. He devotes his career to his lifelong love of boats and justice.