Commercial Litigation Environmental Law Litigation - Environmental
Douglas A. Donnell
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Douglas A. Donnell graduated magna cum laude from Miami University with a bachelor's degree in Economics and received his law degree with honors from Boston College Law School. Doug specializes in environmental law and commercial litigation and has represented both public and private sector clients and individuals in these areas since 1979. He is a member of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section of the American Bar Association and the Environmental Law Section of the Michigan Bar Association. Doug has been a frequent speaker at seminars and continuing education programs on a variety of environmental law and litigation topics and has been asked to participate in the legislative process of drafting several of Michigan's environmental statutes. He has also served as lead counsel in numerous cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court. Doug has been recognized for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers, and was named by Best Lawyers as Grand Rapids' 2012 and 2016 Lawyer of the Year in Environmental Litigation based on peer reviews. He was also awarded the Grand Rapids Business Journal Legal Newsmaker of the Year for 2015.
Overview
- Boston College Law School, Juris Doctorate, graduated 1979
- Miami University, BA, graduated 1976
- Michigan, State Bar of Michigan
- Wisconsin, State Bar of Wisconsin
- Ohio, Ohio State Bar Association
- American Bar Association - Member
- State Bar of Michigan - Member
- U. S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Michigan, State Bar of Michigan
- Wisconsin, State Bar of Wisconsin
- Ohio, Ohio State Bar Association
- American Bar Association - Member
- State Bar of Michigan - Member
- Boston College Law School, Juris Doctorate, graduated 1979
- Miami University, BA, graduated 1976
- U. S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Litigation - Environmental, Grand Rapids (2025)
- Environmental Law, Grand Rapids (2022)
- Litigation - Environmental, Grand Rapids (2020)
- Litigation - Environmental, Grand Rapids (2018)
- Environmental Law, Grand Rapids (2017)
- Litigation - Environmental, Grand Rapids (2016)
- Litigation - Environmental, Grand Rapids (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Litigation - Environmental
- Environmental Law
- Commercial Litigation
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Oil and Gas Law
- Arbitration
- Mediation
- Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Appellate Practice
- Administrative / Regulatory Law
- Construction Law
- Litigation - Construction
Special Focus:
- Litigation
Awards:
Selected for inclusion in Grand Rapids Magazine’s 2019-2023 Top Lawyers
- Listed in Michigan Super Lawyers
- Selected as a Leading Lawyer
- Awarded the Grand Rapids Business Journal Legal Newsmaker of the Year for 2015
- Listed in Best Lawyers of America
- Named Best Lawyers' Grand Rapids Lawyer of the Year for Environmental Litigation in 2012, 2016 and 2018
News & Media
Publications
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