Douglas Appel

Independent Law Practice Professional

New York, New York, United States

About

Experienced former Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Homicide Bureau of the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office and Senior Vice President/In House Counsel at Citigroup/Smith Barney seeking referrals in both criminal and securities litigation matters. Specialties: Criminal defense, securities arbitration and litigation

Experience

  • Principal at The Law Offices of Douglas B. Appel
    2010 - Present · 16 yrs 6 mos

    Principal in full service criminal defense/securities litigation firm active throughout the New York City metro area.

  • Senior Vice President/Counsel at Citigroup/Smith Barney
    2006 - 2009 · 3 yrs

    ▪ Represented firm and individual brokers in arbitrations before the New York Stock Exchange and National Association of Securities Dealers (now FINRA) when Smith Barney retail clients brought claims ▪ Complete responsibility for hundreds of cases from inception through hearing, including responding in writing to claims and handling all aspects of discovery, investigation and subpoena productions ▪ Lead counsel in approximately 20 FINRA arbitrations and state court trials that went to decision in which millions of dollars in damages were sought; over half of these cases resulted in outright dismissal, virtually every other case resulted in minimal award ▪ Negotiated settlements in high exposure cases at nominal value for significant cost savings to the firm ▪ Managed outside counsel in state court litigations, FINRA arbitrations and expungement of broker records

  • Senior Assistant District Attorney at Kings County District Attorney's Office
    1998 - 2006 · 8 yrs

    Senior Assistant District Attorney, Homicide Bureau ~ 2001 – 2006 ▪ Lead counsel in 30 homicide trials to verdict – 85% conviction rate ▪ Successful Death Penalty prosecution of career criminal in a triple homicide ▪ Won convictions in 3 Murder in the First Degree cases ▪ Bureau specializes in the litigation of capital and complex, high-publicity homicide cases ▪ Awarded Certificate of Appreciation from NYPD Police Commissioner for lecturing new recruits on basic criminal law principles and effective trial testimony Supervising Senior Assistant District Attorney, Sex Crimes Bureau ~ 2000 – 2001 ▪ Lead counsel in 6 high publicity rape and DNA cases to verdict – 75% conviction rate ▪ Trained, managed and supervised junior attorneys in case evaluation and courtroom demeanor ▪ Letter of Commendation from NYC Fire Commissioner for successfully prosecuting civilian FDNY employee for sexual abuse of another employee while on the job Assistant District Attorney, Felony Trial Bureau ~ 1998 - 2000 ▪ Lead counsel in 13 violent felony and felony drug sale jury trials to verdict - 77% conviction rate

  • Assistant District Attorney at Clinton County District Attorney's Office
    1995 - 1998 · 3 yrs

    ▪ Lead counsel in 25 felony and misdemeanor jury trials - 82% conviction rate ▪ Authored and argued respondent’s brief in the Appellate Division, Third Department

  • Associate at Horowitz & Goldman
    1994 - 1994 · Less than a year

    ▪ Researched and wrote motions, interrogatories and appeals for small commercial litigation firm