As a Senior Partner in Copeland, Stair, Valz & Lovell’s Charleston office, Doug represents clients throughout South Carolina in all stages of civil litigation, alternate dispute resolution, and licensure matters.  He has served as lead counsel in jury and non-jury trials, and he has defended clients before the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Professional Boards, and the South Carolina Office of Disciplinary Counsel (lawyers).  He has experience handling complex litigation, class action, and derivative cases,  and wrongful death/survival cases.

Doug’s defense of professionals includes attorneys, accountants, medical professionals, real estate agents and brokers, insurance agents, and other professionals.  In addition, he defends directors and officers in management liability matters, with particular experience in community association defense. Doug also represents clients in commercial litigation, premises liability, ERISA disability, employment practices, and he provides insurance coverage opinions. In addition to his busy practice, Doug serves as CSVL’s commercial litigation practice group co-leader.

In addition to his active litigation practice, Doug serves as general counsel for businesses advising clients on the broad range of management and liability issues.

Doug was named a South Carolina Rising Star® by Super Lawyers® in 2015, 2016, and 2017. He is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell. In 2021 Doug was elected to the CSVL Executive Committee.

He is married with two children and lives in Charleston, SC.