Atty. Douglas P. Needham

Atty. Douglas P. Needham

A senior litigator, Doug Needham protects worker rights and benefits through cases brought under the Employee Retirement Security Act (ERISA) and consumer protection statutes regarding pension calculations, 401(k) investments, ERISA vesting rules, insurance rates and executive compensation. Working closely with actuaries, economists and statisticians, Doug’s cases involve complex annuity, investment and insurance products, as well as the effect of corporate mergers and spin-offs on employee benefits.

Hartford Hartford 18 yrs experience 18 year
Call (860) 218-2720 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Douglas P. Needham at a glance

Douglas P. Needham is a Senior Counsel based in Hartford, Connecticut, practicing at Motley Rice LLC. They have 18+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2008. Their practice focuses on consumer. Admitted to practice in New York (2008), Massachusetts (2008), and Connecticut U.S. Court of Appeals for the First and Second Circuits U.S. District Court for the Dist (2013). Educated at Boston University School of Law (J.D., 2007) and Cornell University (B.S., 2004). Serands clients in Hartford, CT and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • A senior litigator, Doug Needham protects worker rights and benefits through cases brought under the Employee Retirement Security Act (ERISA) and consumer protection statutes regarding pension calculations, 401(k) investments, ERISA vesting rules, insurance rates and executive compensation
  • Working closely with actuaries, economists and statisticians, Doug’s cases involve complex annuity, investment and insurance products, as well as the effect of corporate mergers and spin-offs on employee benefits
  • He was a partner at a boutique plaintiffs’ class action firm before joining Motley Rice, playing a lead role in developing novel cases brought under the ERISA statute and helping thousands of workers across the country recover money and benefits, including: •Berry v
  • Wells Fargo ($79 million settlement.* Worked alongside Motley Rice as co-lead counsel
  • The settlement was the largest recovery for a “top hat case” in the history of ERISA) •Cruz v
  • Raytheon ($59 million settlement* as class counsel) •Snider v
  • Seventy-Seven Energy ($15 million settlement* as co-lead counsel) •Stegemann v
  • Gannett (co-class counsel) Before focusing on his practice representing plaintiffs, Doug represented clients in business torts, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud cases as a partner at a large corporate law firm in Connecticut
  • A former All-Ivy lacrosse player during his time at Cornell, Doug is a youth lacrosse and basketball coach and a board member for a local lacrosse program and previously was the risk manager for a youth soccer program
  • Awards, Accolades & Recognitions Connecticut Super Lawyers Connecticut Super Lawyers Rising Stars list 2015-2018 Class Action & Mass Torts, Business Litigation Selection criteria Blog Posts July 6, 2023 Social media’s grip on teen mental health by: Laura K. Stemkowski January 8, 2021 Clicking with caution: Cybersecurity data breach risks are higher than ever Causes, Not Just Cases by: Jodi Westbrook Flowers August 12, 2020 Denied business interruption insurance payouts due to COVID-19 losses, some business owners may find justice in civil courts Causes, Not Just Cases by: John A. Baden IV News April 28, 2025 The history and legacy of Workers’ Memorial Day by: M. Nolan Webb

Practice Areas Explained

Douglas P. Needham's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Douglas P. Needham handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Consumer Protection

Consumer protection attorneys for fraud, lemon law, debt harassment, and deceptive trade practices.

Douglas P. Needham is one of 50,607 consumer attorneys indexed nationally. Browse consumer attorneys in Connecticut →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Connecticut

Practicing law in Connecticut. Legal matters in Connecticut are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Hartford are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Connecticut state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Connecticut brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Connecticut courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Connecticut attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Hartford or all attorneys in Connecticut.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Douglas P. Needham

Where is Douglas P. Needham's law office located?
Douglas P. Needham's law practice is located in Hartford, Connecticut. The firm is Motley Rice LLC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Douglas P. Needham handle?
Douglas P. Needham focuses on consumer. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Connecticut.
How long has Douglas P. Needham practiced law?
Douglas P. Needham has 18+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 2008.
Where did Douglas P. Needham go to law school?
Douglas P. Needham earned their education at (J.D., 2007); (B.S., 2004).
How can I contact Douglas P. Needham for a consultation?
You can contact Douglas P. Needham directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.

Practice Areas

Education

J.D.
Boston University School of Law
- 2007
B.S.
Cornell University
- 2004

Bar Admissions

New York
Admitted: 2008
Massachusetts
Admitted: 2008
Connecticut U.S. Court of Appeals for the First and Second Circuits U.S. District Court for the Dist
Admitted: 2013

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