Douglas Eakeley

Professor Eakeley joined the law school in 2012 from Lowenstein Sandler LLP, where he specialized in complex commercial litigation, including securities fraud, antitrust, consumer fraud, class actions and derivative litigation. He has successfully tried numerous matters in federal and state courts, argued many appeals in the federal and state appellate courts, and served as lead counsel in cases in which new law was established. Professor Eakeley is included in the 2008-2016 editions of The Best Lawyers in America for his work on “make or break” litigation. He has also been recognized every year since 2005 by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

A former Rhodes Scholar and graduate of Yale Law School, Professor Eakeley served as first assistant attorney general of the State of New Jersey. In 1993 he was appointed by President Clinton to the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation, which he chaired until April 2003. His current professional affiliations include serving as Chair of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and trustee of Legal Services of New Jersey.

Professor Eakeley has received numerous awards for his pro bono work and contributions to the legal community, including the American Jewish Committee’s Judge Learned Hand Award, Thurgood Marshall College Fund Award of Excellence, John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award from the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association, National Housing Institute’s Outstanding Service Award, Reynoso-Abascal Don Quixote Award from California Rural Legal Assistance, League of Women Voters of New Jersey Making Democracy Work Award, Lead New Jersey's Lifetime of Leadership Award and the first Legal Services of New Jersey/New Jersey State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award (renamed the Debevoise-Eakeley Award).

Professor Eakeley is the first occupant of the Alan V. Lowenstein Chair in Corporate and Business Law, which was established by the late Alan V. Lowenstein, founder of Lowenstein Sandler and a major figure in the New Jersey legal and non-profit communities. He is also the founder and co-director of the Rutgers Center for Corporate Law and Governance.