Douglas, John L. | Lawyers | Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

John L. Douglas

Partner

john.douglas@davispolk.com

Mr. Douglas is a partner in our Financial Institutions Group, heading the firm’s bank regulatory practice and focusing on bank restructuring and resolutions and other issues arising from the current banking and financial crisis. He has been involved in some of the most difficult and sensitive matters during the crisis, including advising the boards of directors of Indymac and Bank United, counseling Citigroup with respect to FDIC matters, advising various parties on the fallout from the failure of Washington Mutual and advising various private equity firms on proposed investments in troubled or failed banks.

Mr. Douglas was appointed General Counsel of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1987 and continued in that capacity through 1989. This was a period of unprecedented stress on the financial system, and he was involved in the major bank failures and restructurings of the late 1980s, participated in the landmark Financial Institutions Regulatory Reform and Restructuring Act of 1989 and assisted in the organization of the Resolution Trust Corporation.

Mr. Douglas is now regarded as one of the leading bank insolvency lawyers in the nation.

Contact

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New York
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
P: 212-450-4145
F: 212-701-5145

Washington
901 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
P: 202-962-7126
F: 202-962-7100

Related Practices

Bar Admissions

State of New York
District of Columbia
State of Georgia

Education

B.A., Economics, Davidson College, 1972
J.D., University of Georgia School of Law, 1977

Languages

Spanish

Work Highlights

Wachovia Corporation in its acquisition of CoreStates Financial Corp, First Fidelity Bancorporation and Westcorp
Bank of America in a strategic alliance and outsourcing venture to provide electronic bill payment and presentment, involving a $500 million equity investment
A consortium of eighteen of the nation’s largest banks and a technology company to form the largest provider of home banking services
Six major international banks and a card association in the formation of a major global payments processing company
CheckFree Corporation in obtaining direct access to the major funds transfer systems, allowing it to move over $2 billion each business day
One of the world’s largest asset management companies in the formation and subsequent acquisition of a series of national trust banks

Recognition

Mr. Douglas has been listed in numerous guides to the world’s leading business lawyers, including:

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Woodward/White’s The Best Lawyers in America
Euromoney’s Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Banking Lawyers
Law Business Research’s Who’s Who Legal–International Who’s Who of Banking Lawyers
The Financial Times’ Who’s Who Legal International (Banking)

Mr. Douglas was also named to the “BTI Client Service All-Star Team,” a group of 113 lawyers recognized for exceptional service to Fortune 100 clients.

Of Note

Memberships

Director, Financial Services Volunteer Corp., a non-profit organization assisting countries as the work to develop strong banking and capital markets systems; in that capacity, he has advised the governments of Russia, Indonesia and Egypt, among others
Member, Financial Markets Tribunal, Dubai Financial Services Authority
Member, Executive Committee, University of North Carolina Law School’s Banking Law Institute
Member, Executive Committee, Rising Star Outreach, a non-profit organization assisting those affected by leprosy in India

Professional History

Partner, Davis Polk, 2009-present

News

Davis Polk Advises Westport Capital Partners on Its Investment in Community & Southern Bank

Davis Polk Leads Nominations for IFLR Americas Awards

Davis Polk Advises Corsair Capital on Its Acquisition of a 9.9% Stake in East West Bank

Davis Polk Advises on First-Ever Bond Offering Under the Government's Temporary Corporate Credit Union Liquidity Guarantee Program

Davis Polk Publishes Comprehensive Financial Crisis Manual

Davis Polk Advises on State Bank & Trust Co.'s FDIC-Assisted Acquisition of Security Bank

Former FDIC General Counsel and Leading Bank Insolvency Expert, John Douglas, Joins Davis Polk

Publications

President Obama Proposes Size and Activities Limits for Financial Institutions
Client Memorandum

President Obama Proposes Tax on Large Financial Firms
Client Newsflash

The FDIC Seeks Public Comment on Whether to Incorporate Compensation Programs into the Risk-Based Deposit Insurance Assessment System
Client Newsflash

FDIC and Private Capital: Moving the Goal Lines
Client Memorandum

Summary of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Passed by the House of Representatives, December 11, 2009
Client Memorandum

Summary of the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2009, Introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) November 10, 2009 Discussion Draft
Client Memorandum

The House and Senate Debate Resolution Authority
Client Memorandum

Federal Reserve Proposed Guidance: Aligning Incentive Compensation with Safety and Soundness Concerns
Client Memorandum

The Davis Polk Financial Crisis Manual
A Guide to the Laws, Regulations and Contracts of the Financial Crisis

FDIC Extends Cautious Welcome To Private Capital Investments In Failed Banks
Client Memorandum

Davis Polk Comment Letter on the FDIC's Proposed Policy Statement on Private Equity
Comment Letter

Killing the Golden Goose? The FDIC's Proposed Policy Statement on Private Equity
Davis Polk Web Forum

The Regulatory Reform Marathon
Client Memorandum

FDIC Proposes Conditions for Investments in Failed Banks by Private Capital Investors
Client Memorandum

A New Foundation for Financial Regulation?
Client Memorandum

Restructuring and Liquidation of U.S. Financial Institutions
Legal Aspects of the Financial Crisis

2001

The U.S. Approach to the Regulation of E-Commerce | 2 Business Law International 171

1997

Banking and Technology | University of North Carolina Law School Banking Law Institute, Volume 1, page 37

1992

Deposit Insurance Reform | Wake Forest Law Review 11

1992

Deposit Insurance, Current Problems and Proposals | Current Issues Affecting Central Banks, Volume 1, page 191 (International Monetary Fund)

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