Doug’s practice focuses on bankruptcy, real estate development, banking, commercial transactions, and commercial litigation.
Doug has the honor of being listed in the publication, The Best Lawyers in America under two categories: Banking and Creditor-Debtor Rights, and Bankruptcy Law. Doug has also been recognized as a Top Lawyer by Corporate Counsel for Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law. Doug is also a Fellow of The Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society.
Doug’s bankruptcy practice is limited to representing creditors. He has more than two decades of experience representing both secured creditors and unsecured creditors in cases under chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. He is a former member of the U. S. Trustee’s Panel for the District of Montana. He has been active in the Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar and served as Chairman of the Bankruptcy Section. He also serves on the Local Rules Committee for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana.
Doug is involved in all aspects of real estate development and litigation. He has represented lenders, developers, tenants, and owners in connection with real estate acquisitions, shopping centers, box store developments, Lifestyle Centers, medical campuses, co-tenancy issues, leasing, zoning, site development, subdivision approval, reciprocal easement agreements, subdivision improvements agreements, common area maintenance agreements, secured financing, lease terminations, planned unit developments, and foreclosures.
Doug’s litigation practice also involves representing broker-dealers, salespersons, and investment advisors in civil and administrative cases involving the registration and sales of securities in Montana.
Doug is actively involved in the community, currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Alberta Bair Theater. He served as Chairman of the City of Billings Zoning Commission for many years and also served on the City Board of Adjustments. He was an Adjunct Instructor at Rocky Mountain College, Billings, teaching Business Law, and was recognized as an Outstanding Instructor. He has been a frequent speaker at numerous seminars including the Annual Montana Bankruptcy Seminar, the Northwest Bankruptcy Conference in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and the Montana Bankers Association. Doug is an advocate for adoption. For more than 20 years, he has volunteered his time to assist parents in finalizing or re-finalizing the adoptions of their children.
Doug was born in Great Falls, Montana on February 2, 1957. He graduated from Charles M. Russell High School in Great Falls and then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, with high honors, from Southern Methodist University in 1979. Doug earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Montana in 1982. After graduating from law school, he worked for the Montana Securities Department from 1982-1984. He joined Moulton Bellingham PC in 1984.
Doug is married to Kathy Webster James, the Clinical Operations Manager for the Health Access Call Center at Rocky Mountain Health Network, Inc. Doug and Kathy spend their free time enjoying their children and grandchildren, reading, biking, and traveling. They greatly enjoyed traveling to Nevis and Chile in 2010.
