Douglas L. Kay

A seasoned advocate with over three decades of trial experience, Viriginia-based attorney Doug Kay focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and business disputes.

Doug regularly handles high-stake cases representing businesses in state, federal, and appellate courts across Virginia, Washington, D.C., and beyond. He frequently serves as local counsel in federal and state courts in Virginia, where he provides valuable insight and strategic guidance on local procedures and practices to ensure that clients' cases are handled competently, efficiently, and successfully.

Business & Commercial Litigation

An experienced commercial litigator, Doug leverages his broad range of practical experience to help his clients resolve their most threatening and difficult business and legal problems. He regularly handles cases related to:

• Breach of contract
• Fraud
• Breach of fiduciary duty
• Business conspiracy
• Tortious interference with prospective economic advantage
• Misappropriation of trade secrets
• Employment disputes

Doug is particularly skilled in diagnosing and solving problems in their earliest stages and has a proven track record of helping his clients avoid costly and unnecessary litigation. He is calm and experienced when confronted with a matter that must be resolved in a court of law, administrative hearing, or through alternative dispute resolution (ADR). He strives to reach the best result for his clients’ problems.

Estate Litigation

In addition to business disputes, Doug handles trust and estate litigation. He is experienced with inheritance-related disputes involving will and trust beneficiaries, executors and administrators, trustees, and attorneys-in-fact under powers of attorney. Doug has tried fiduciary cases related to breach of fiduciary duty, incapacity, undue influence, and will contests. 

Expert Witness Work (Attorney Fee Disputes)

Doug also possesses extensive experience serving as an expert witness in attorney fee disputes. His hands-on experience in law firm operations provides a solid foundation for his reliable evaluations in fee-related conflicts. By combining his managerial insights with his in-depth knowledge of legal billing practices, Doug offers well-substantiated opinions on behalf of parties embroiled in attorney fee disputes. Similarly, his insights from this expert witness work benefit his management role, enhancing Offit Kurman’s commitment to excellence and reinforcing the integrity of our legal services.

Law Firm Management

In addition to his legal practice, Doug is the Deputy Managing Principal of Offit Kurman. In this role, Doug assists the Managing Principal with the overall management of the firm’s Practice of Law Division, focusing on practice group management and performance, timekeeper performance and morale, cross referrals, quality assurance/quality control, marketing, and organic growth. Doug also focuses on attorney recruiting and on special programs, including Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Associate Development Program, the Leadership Training Program, and the Mentorship Program.

Background

Doug was commissioned an officer in the United States Navy while in law school. Following law school, he served on active duty as a Judge Advocate at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. After his military service, he worked as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Fairfax County before entering private practice as a civil litigation associate at a large law firm and later becoming a named partner at a boutique firm. Doug joined Offit Kurman as a principal in 2013, became a shareholder in 2016, and was elected to the firm’s board of directors in 2020. He has held several leadership roles at Offit Kurman, including practice group leader, practice group director, and his current position as department chair since 2021.