Doug Chalmers practices in the area of federal and state political law and litigation. Before establishing Chalmers & Adams LLC, he was a partner in the political law and litigation practice groups of a large national law firm.

Doug has been recognized in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as one of the leading political law attorneys in the nation. Politics magazine has identified Doug as one of the most influential Republicans in Georgia, and James Magazine has included him on its list of the Most Influential Georgia Attorneys. Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine have also recognized Doug as a Super Lawyer Rising Star.

Doug advises political committees, corporations, nonprofit organizations, chambers of commerce, trade associations, elected officials, candidates, political parties, lobbyists and government agencies on the federal and state laws that govern involvement in political activities. This includes campaign finance, lobbying, election law, nonprofit law, FCC regulations, pay-to-play rules and government ethics. He provides compliance advice and also defends clients in litigation and administrative law proceedings.

As part of his practice, Doug has successfully defended clients in numerous high-profile cases, including many with significant media coverage. He also successfully defended a high-profile client against a complex bar complaint. He has served as the Chairman of the Political Activities Subcommittee of the Nonprofit Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia.

Doug is a frequent speaker in the area of political law, and he has addressed seminars around the country. He has testified before legislative committees concerning government ethics, and is regularly contacted by the media on these issues. He frequently conducts ethics training seminars for elected officials, including at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators. His articles have been published in, and/or he has been quoted in, numerous publications, including the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Daily Beast, Engage, Daily Report, Huffington Post, and others.

Doug is also active in the community and in civic affairs. He served on the Judicial Nominating Commission for Governor Nathan Deal.  He was previously appointed to the Board of Directors of the Georgia Department of Driver Services by former Governor Sonny Perdue. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Republican National Lawyers Association, and is the past chairman of the RNLA’s Georgia chapter. He is active in the Federalist Society, serving on the Board of Advisors for the Atlanta Lawyers Chapter. Doug also served as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 27 in Johns Creek, and served on the Board of Directors of The Will-to-Live Foundation, a teen suicide prevention organization. Doug is also the founder of Dad’s Guide to Adulting, a YouTube channel that has videos of Doug providing practical and philosophical advice to young adults (https://www.youtube.com/@dadsguidetoadulting8236).

Doug received his undergraduate and law degrees from Duke University. He was an editor of the Duke Law Journal and a member of the Moot Court Board, and he received the James S. Bidlake Award for Superior Achievement in Legal Research and Writing. He clerked for Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Doug is admitted to practice in Georgia and the District of Columbia.

Seminars, Presentations, and Testimony

• Ethics Training Panel, University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government – 29th Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators – December 2014
• Lobbying Training Presentation to Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Local Chamber Policy Workshop – November 2014
• Presentation on Voting Rights Act, The Seminar Group Conference on Government Law – October 2014
• Presentation on Government Ethics Laws to Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta – September 2014
• Ethics Training Presentation to Georgia Tax Commissioners – June 2014
• “Election Year DOs and DONTs for Tax-Exempt Organizations,” Nonprofit Law Seminar, Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia – March 2012
• Presentation on Election and Lobbying Law to the Legislative / Leadership Conference of the Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia – February 2012
• Presentation on Regulatory Compliance Issues to Georgia Professional Lobbyists Association, Atlanta, GA – December 2011
• “Rules on Political & Lobbying Activities for Nonprofits,” presentation to 8th Annual Nonprofit Law Seminar ICLE program, Atlanta, GA – March 2011.
• Testimony on ethics reform legislation, House Governmental Affairs Committee, Atlanta, GA – February 2011
• “Ethics Update” – presentation for members of Georgia Senate Republican Caucus, Atlanta, GA – February 2011
• “‘Bailing Out’ of the Preclearance Requirements of the Voting Rights Act” – presentation to Georgia Municipal Association Mayor’s Day Conference, Atlanta, GA – January 2011