Professional Experience:

Douglas (“Doug”) Alan Bates is proud to practice in the same town where he was born and raised. Living and working in Pensacola allows Doug to interact with lifelong friends on a daily basis, and allows him to serve as a trusted advisor to regional and Fortune 500 businesses that share his values of hard work, dedication, and personal service. Doug remains mindful that the opportunity to serve clients in his hometown is a great privilege, one that he never takes for granted. Doug’s practice is focused on commercial and real estate litigation, as well as bankruptcy and creditors’ rights matters.

Doug has handled insolvency matters, distressed business situations and special asset cases across the state of Florida and the United States. As a Chambers USA-recognized attorney, Doug’s peers recommend him as an “exceedingly well-regarded, very talented litigator and bankruptcy lawyer” who is “efficient, creative and business-oriented.”

Doug is an active member of the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar, serving as Chair of the Section’s Executive Council. Doug is also a member of The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Student Education and Bar Admissions, as well as numerous other local, statewide, and national organizations.

Doug supports and is actively involved with Pensacola State College, Pensacola Sports, the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist Church, and the Pensacola State College Foundation Board of Governors. He also enjoys playing golf, coaching youth sports, and spending time with his family.

Doug is licensed to practice in all Florida State Courts, as well as the United States District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida. In addition, Doug is authorized to practice in all United States Bankruptcy Courts in Florida.

• AV rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
• Florida Trend Magazine Legal Elite, Commercial Litigation, 2014 – present
• Florida Trend Magazine “Up and Comer,” 2007 – 2013
• Florida Super Lawyers “100,” 2022 – present
• Florida Super Lawyers “Super Lawyer,” 2014 – present
• Florida Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” 2009 – 2013
• Chambers & Partners USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers, 2011 – present
• Best Lawyers in America, 2016 – present
• PACE Award – Pensacola’s Emerging Business Leader of the Year, 2018
• Florida Bar Business Law Section Member of the Year, 2019
• Pensacola State College Athletic Hall of Fame, 2020
• US News – Best Law Firms 2020 – Member of Team Recognized as Metropolitan Tier 1 firm in Bankruptcy & Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization

• Executive Council of The Florida Bar’s Business Law Section, Member, 2006-present
• Executive Council of The Florida Bar’s Business Law Section, Chair
• Business Litigation Committee, Member
• Bankruptcy/UCC Committee, Member and former Chair
• Judicial Liaison Committee, Member and former Chair
• Legislative Affairs Committee, Member and former Chair
• Membership Committee, Member and former Chair
• Marketing Committee, Member and former Chair
• The Florida Bar Leadership Academy, Fellow, Inaugural Class
• Florida Bar Standing Committee on Student Education and Bar Admissions, former Chair
• Pensacola State College Foundation, Member & former President of Board of Governors
• Pensacola State College, Athletics Booster Club, Member of Executive Committee
• Pensacola State College, Lifetime Charter Member of Alumni Association
• Birmingham Southern College Alumni Association
• University of West Florida, Football Kickoff Club, Member
• Pensacola Sports Association, Member, Board of Directors
• Escambia Santa Rosa County Bar Association, member and former Executive Council
• NAIOP, Member
• American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
• American Cancer Society, Making Strides Executive Committee and former Chair