Douglas M. Schwab joined Heller Ehrman in 1969 and has a practice emphasizing securities and corporate governance, and professional liability litigation for domestic and foreign accounting firms.

Experience

Mr. Schwab has held a number of leadership positions within the firm, including serving on the firm’s Executive and Policy Committees, as firmwide Chair of the Litigation Department and as Chair of the San Francisco office’s litigation department and securities litigation practice group.  His practice in securities litigation has included leading the firm’s defense of many corporations, outside directors, officers, venture investors, and domestic and foreign accounting firms. Recent engagements include the litigation concerning financial frauds at Cendant Corporation and Parmalat. He has led the firm's defense of cases involving a broad range of industries, including public utilities and energy, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, lasers, computer hardware and software, telecommunications, steel manufacturing, consumer buying clubs, consumer services, real estate, health care and clothing. 

Mr. Schwab is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.  In its 2008 USA Guide, Chambers placed Mr. Schwab in Rank 1 in Securities Litigation in California. Chambers wrote:  “A ‘masterful, creative and tough litigator,’ Douglas Schwab is a ‘class act and a gentleman. You can take his word to the bank,’ interviewees assert. He is heavily focused on acting for accounting firms such as Ernst & Young and PwC [...].”  Mr. Schwab is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. The Daily Journal, a legal news paper published in San Francisco and Los Angeles, listed him as one of the top 30 securities litigation attorneys in California. He is a frequent lecturer on securities litigation, accountant liability and damage issues on programs sponsored by universities, economic consulting firms and various continuing legal education organizations.