C. Douglas Dooley is a litigation attorney with 30+ years of experience handling workers’ compensation, trucking accidents, personal injury law, insurance coverage disputes, premises liability, food borne illness cases, dram shop liability and complex litigation. Doug is regularly invited to lecture on workers’ compensation, premises liability and tort liability to risk managers, human resource administrators and insurance claims professionals across the country.
Doug has served on the DRI Board of Directors as the Southern Regional Director. He is a Past President of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association (TDLA) and was on the TDLA Board of Directors for over 10 years in addition to serving as Secretary/Treasurer and President-Elect. He is a fellow of the Chattanooga Bar Foundation and an active member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC). He serves on the ALFA International Workers’ Compensation Steering Committee. Doug has been an active DRI member. He has participated on Annual Meeting Marketing Committees and has served a three year term as the DRI State Representative for Tennessee. He is also an active member of the Tennessee State Bar and Chattanooga Bar Association.
Doug is married to Julia Dooley and is the proud father of two daughters. In his community, Doug has served multiple terms as Senior Warden for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, as a Stewardship Chair and served on the vestry. He is a Past President and coach of Signal Mountain Soccer League and former board member of Habitat for Humanity. He also served on the Advisory Council to the Board of Directors for Girls Preparatory School.
Honors and Awards
• DRI Southern Region Director (2013-2015), Board of Directors
• Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association (Past President)
• Fellow of Chattanooga Bar Foundation (2009)
• DRI State Leadership Award (2008)
• Best Lawyers in America, Listed in Litigation - Insurance and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2016-2022) Construction Law, Insurance Law, and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2021-2022)
• "Lawyer of the Year", Best Lawyers in America, Chattanooga area in Litigation - Insurance, 2019; Construction Law, 2021
Publications & Lectures
Mr. Dooley is regularly invited to lecture on Tennessee Workers' Compensation and tort liability to risk managers, human resource administrators and insurance claims adjusters all over the country.
Community Involvement
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church
• Former Senior Warden (2002-2004 and 2005-2008), served on Vestry and as Stewardship Chair
• Board member Mountain Recreation Board Signal Mountain, Tennessee
• Former President Signal Mountain Soccer League
• Parent Council Girls Preparatory School
• Former Board of Advisors Girls Preparatory School
Professional Affiliations
• Chattanooga Bar Association
• Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association; President (2008), President Elect (2007), Secretary/Treasurer (2006), Vice President East Tennessee (2004-2005), Board of Directors (1998-2003)
• Defense Research Institute; Southern Region Director, Board of Directors (2012-2015), Tennessee State Representative (2005-2008), Marketing Committee member (2006-2008)
• International Association of Defense Counsel
• ALFA International Workers' Compensation Steering Committee
• Southern Association of Workers' Compensation Administrators
