Douglas Emhoff is a partner within the Big Law firm
The litigator husband of presumptive US Democratic VP nominee Senator Kamala Harris, Douglas Emhoff, has gone on a leave of absence from global firm DLA Piper, the American Bar Association Journal reported.
As the US presidential election race ramps up, the leave of absence is a necessary step. According to the New York Times, there could be ethical issues if Harris takes on the vice presidency while her husband continues at DLA Piper, since Emhoff acts for clients who have government interests.
A partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office,Emhoff has represented major domestic and international corporations and advised clients on complex business, real estate and IP litigation disputes. He has worked across various industries, including media and entertainment, digital media, sports, advertising, technology, hospitality and character licensing.
Over a career spanning more than 25 years, Emhoff has appeared in California courtrooms acting on a wide range of cases. He has advised production companies, rights holders, athletes, school boards, retailers and advertising agencies, among others.
He first joined DLA Piper in 2017 as the firm expanded across the West Coast;previously, he was with Venable. He maintained a practice in Washington DC as well.
Following the filing of his leave, Emhoff has been working on transitioning his clients to colleagues, American Lawyer reported.
Outside of his work, Emhoff has been involved in providing legal aid services. He also champions human rights, social justice and children’s well-being.
