WILSON ELSER
Nearly 800 attorneys strong, our firm serves clients of all sizes, across multiple industries and around the world. Wilson Elser has 27 strategically located offices in the United States, another in London and several European affiliates. This depth and scale has made us one of the nation’s most influential law firms, ranked in the Am Law 200 and in the top 50 of the National Law Journal 350.
Since our founding in 1978, Wilson Elser has forged a reputation as a formidable player in insurance coverage and defense. Our experience in this tightly regulated, cost-conscious industry has shaped a firm culture of accomplished professionalism and cost efficiency that delivers demonstrable value to clients.
Today, Wilson Elser provides clients with full-service, first-class legal services, spanning the spectrum of litigation and related areas. We apply the discipline and diligence of effective litigation to virtually all areas of the law, drawing on a comprehensive roster of legal services to create multidisciplinary teams that give each client matter the best of the firm’s collective intelligence and capabilities.
Our firm’s uncommonly high concentration of seasoned senior litigators gives us an advantage when handling our clients’ most challenging and technical cases. More broadly, many of our attorneys have specialized degrees in business, engineering, medicine and accounting, as well as extensive on-the-ground professional experience, which translate into client solutions that work in the real world.
DOUGLAS KNOTT
Douglas Knott practices in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury defense and civil rights litigation across the Midwest. His cases include death and catastrophic injury matters before the Wisconsin circuit and appellate courts. A former member of the Iowa Attorney General’s office, Doug thoroughly understands the processes of public policy and administration as well as the concerns and responsibilities of governmental administrators and employees faced with litigation.
Doug is known for a highly analytical style that enables him to grasp the nuances along with the heart of the matter. He is distinguished by an empathetic approach that gives him the ability to elicit vital information and cooperation from witnesses and experts, while gaining the trust of his clients.
Areas of Focus:
Medical Malpractice & Health Care
Doug’s thorough and conscientious approach is the foundation for his defense of health care professionals in private practice. He regularly tries medical malpractice cases on behalf of doctors, nurses and hospitals, using his knowledge of medical practices and procedures to develop an informed and aggressive defense. Doug has been selected by his clients to present on developments in medical malpractice at group practice symposia. He has an expanding practice in the Midwest representing long-term care facilities, including defense of regulatory citations. Doug is a guest lecturer on medical liability issues at Marquette University Law School.
Municipal/Local Government / Health Care Professionals
Building on his considerable experience working with doctors and private health care entities sued under a variety of allegations, Doug has developed an additional area of focus defending health care providers who work for governmental entities, such as municipal professionals, correctional officials and long-term care facilities that face allegations of inadequate or negligent medical care. Often in these cases the plaintiffs allege violation of their civil rights, and handling these claims is another of the strengths of Doug’s practice. He serves as regional counsel for a private entity that provides health care services to correctional facilities, assisting in-house counsel in supervising litigation and coordinating legal services for the states of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Doug has written and presented to groups on developments in civil rights law.
Other Complex Litigation
Doug has substantial experience in many areas of business and personal injury litigation, including non-medical professional liability, aviation, products liability, premises liability, securities, and zoning and land use matters.
