Douglas Hallward-Driemeier

Douglas Hallward-Driemeier is a Partner based in Washington, D.C. who leads an Appellate and Supreme Court practice. He has presented more than 110 appellate arguments, including 19 before the U.S. Supreme Court, and has appeared before every federal circuit court of appeals. His work covers both civil and criminal matters across many areas of law.

Douglas earned his BA (Political Science), summa cum laude, from DePauw University; Phi Beta Kappa; awarded the Walker Cup, given each year to the senior who has contributed the most to the University. He then completed his MPhil (Politics) at the University of Oxford, Rhodes Scholar, followed by his JD, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School; Supervising Editor of the Harvard Law Review. He is admitted in Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and numerous federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Douglas focuses on administrative and constitutional law, intellectual property, bankruptcy, the False Claims Act, securities law, and antitrust. He has handled cases involving the Alien Tort Statute, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, and forum non conveniens. He also works closely with trial teams to strengthen key motions and protect issues for appeal. In addition, he advises clients on challenges to administrative actions and on the constitutionality of legislation.

Douglas previously served for more than a decade at the U.S. Department of Justice. From 2004 to 2009, he was an Assistant to the Solicitor General, briefing and arguing cases before the Supreme Court on behalf of the United States. In 2015, he argued in Obergefell v. Hodges and Bullard v. Blue Hills Bank in the same month.

Douglas Hallward-Driemeier has received recognition including Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2011-2025), Best Lawyers in America (2014-2026), Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers (2013-2024), National Law Journal – Trailblazer (2023), Legal 500 (2016-2025), Lawdragon 500 (2015), and Law360 “Appellate MVP” (2015).

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Ropes & Gray LLP
• Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Member, Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court
• Member, American Law Institute

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts

Education

• Harvard Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Oxford
  Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• DePauw University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges