Overview
Douglas A. Kelley is a well-respected trial attorney who brings the highest levels of professionalism and personal character to his practice. Over the past 30 years he earned the reputation as one of the foremost white-collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation attorneys in the country.
Doug has tried over 100 jury trials, including federal criminal and civil cases. His experience includes political campaign finance and fair election practices, bank and health care fraud, financial crimes and other complex litigation.
During his seven-year career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he prosecuted mafia figures and high-profile financial crimes. He successfully represented the plaintiff in La Société Générale Immobilière (LSGI) v. The City of Minneapolis in which a federal jury awarded $34 million to his clients for breach of a municipal development contract. He represented the MN Board of Judicial Standards and has chaired the Minnesota Campaign Practices Board.
He serves as the court‑appointed receiver and bankruptcy trustee charged with managing and liquidating the personal assets of Thomas J. Petters and five codefendants convicted of the largest Ponzi scheme in Minnesota history, collecting assets for victims and creditors. In this capacity, he helped secure the largest jury verdict in Minnesota history against BMO Harris Bank for $563.7 million, to exceed $1 billion with prejudgment interest.
Among other representations very important to him was his work on behalf of the Wetterling family in the prosecution of Danny Heinrich for kidnapping and murdering 11‑year-old Jacob.
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., cum laude; President, Minnesota Law Review
- University of Minnesota, B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude
Bar Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- State Bar of Minnesota
Honors and Recognition
- Minnesota Icon Honoree
- Department of Justice Meritorious Achievement
- Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics
- Minnesota Super Lawyers
- Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer
- AV Preeminent Peer Review rated, Martindale-Hubbell Law Digest
- Elmer H. Wiblishauser Author’s Award
- President, Minnesota Law Review
Professional Associations and Community Involvement
- American College of Trial Lawyers, membership limited to top 1 percent of litigators
- Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Chair, 2002 – 2004
- Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Member, 2000 – 2004
- Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection, Member, 1994 – 1998
- University of Minnesota Economic Roundtable, 1997
- Selection Panel for Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota, Chair, 2002
- Federal Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Member
- Hennepin County Bar Association, Member
- Minnesota League of Conservation Voters, Co-chair
- Minnesota Orchestral Association, Board of Directors Member, 1992 – 2011
- Voyageur Outward Bound , Board of Directors Member, 1990 – 1998
- Minnesota Audubon Council, Member
- Trust for Public Land Board, Member, 2002 – present
- Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, 2004 – 2012