As Phillips Lytle’s Managing Partner, Doug provides vision and leadership to a preeminent law firm that is recognized nationally for its legal excellence.
Doug manages day-to-day operations of the firm and leads its administrative departments, practice group leaders and office leaders. As Managing Partner, Doug also leads the Governing Committee in setting the firm’s strategic goals and initiatives. His role focuses on implementing plans to accomplish the Firm’s objectives to assure Phillips Lytle’s position as a premier source of sophisticated legal counsel, a trusted business and legal advisor to its clients, and a destination for exceptional, diverse legal talent in its markets.
In addition to his role of Managing Partner, Doug’s areas of focus includes telecommunications law and commercial real estate, with extensive expertise in public-private partnerships. He represents leading telecommunications carriers, infrastructure providers and numerous other clients involved in the telecommunications industry. His representation has included transactional and litigation matters, such as permitting for wireless telecommunication carriers, tower owners and developers; and site leasing work, site development and asset sales and purchases throughout the U.S. He has particular expertise in distributed antenna system (DAS) and other small cell networks, where he is involved with both business and regulatory aspects.
Doug’s public-private partnership and commercial real estate expertise consists of his experience representing a broad range of clients on office, industrial, retail and mixed-use projects. In addition, he represents developers and investors in commercial real estate financing, including construction lending and loan restructurings. He has been instrumental in numerous projects by providing creative solutions, overcoming project challenges, engaging critical partners and identifying incentives to ensure effectiveness in moving projects forward.
During his time at the firm, Doug has been a Practice Group Leader, a Practice Team Leader and a Governing Committee member.
Co-Presenter, “Digital Infrastructure and Regulatory Framework as Determinants of 5G Success,” Accelerating 5G Deployment in South America, WIA, March 2024
Co-Presenter, “Maintaining Momentum on Federal Permitting and Siting Reforms,” WIA Connect (X) 2023, May 2023
Presenter, “State of State – WIA’s Infrastructure Update from State Capitals,” WIA Connect (X), May 2022
Speaker, “Deals and Deal-Making Trends in the Middle Market,” Connect (X) Conference, Wireless Industry Association, October 2021
Panelist, “The Future of Our City – Virtual Panel of Experts,” Buffalo Business First Event, February 2021
Moderator, “Smart City: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges,” “2nd Buffalo Day for 5G and Wireless Internet of Things,” New York State Wireless Association Virtual Workshop, November 2020
Panelist, “Model Ordinance for Municipalities from the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC),” New Jersey Wireless Association 4Q Education Event, November 2018
Panelist, “Cell Towers: Still the Infrastructure Work Horse; What Else is in the Works?” Above Ground Level Media Group (AGL) Conference, March 2016
Panelist, “Legal, Immigration, Accounting/Tax and Banking,” Cross Border Business Strategies Event, May 2015
Moderator, “Examining Opportunities and Challenges of Unmanned Aircraft Systems,” 2015 PCIA Infrastructure Show, April 2015
Activities & Professional Associations
Present Activities
Buffalo Niagara Partnership CanAm Council, Member
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Member (Representing New York State Wireless Association)
Model Code for Municipalities Working Group, Chair
