Douglas Pilawa

Douglas is one of only four associates in the US to have been selected as an “Associate to Watch” by Chambers and Partners. He has been praised by clients for being “very astute in identifying the pertinent issues in international disputes and quick to grasp and understand complex and technical matters.” (Legal 500, International Arbitration 2024). Others have commented that he is “a very strong advocate with excellent drafting skills and fantastic energy law experience.” (Chambers and Partners, 2025).

Douglas acts in disputes in a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, energy, construction, telecoms and pharmaceuticals to name a few. As well as advising clients on disputes, Douglas also supports clients in avoiding disputes by assisting with contractual strategies and structuring foreign investments for investment-treaty purposes.

Educated in both the US and Europe, Douglas understands and appreciates the cultural, business and legal differences between the two and works seamlessly in both. He is fluent in French and regularly works in French related matters. Douglas is the executive director of the French American Chamber of Commerce (Ohio) and splits his time between the US and France.

Douglas has previously been an adjunct faculty member at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he taught a 12-week international arbitration course for several years. He also was a visiting professor at Southwest University of Political Science in Law in Chongqing, China.

While in law school, Douglas was the captain of Case Western’s Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court team, twice earning oralist honorable mention awards at the Moot in Vienna. He also served as the executive articles editor for Case Western’s Journal of International Law.

Prior to law school, Douglas worked at several international companies in the US and France.