Biglaw

Biglaw Partner Found Dead In Water Near Beachfront Home

Our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this extremely difficult time.

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(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

We have some unfortunate news today to report out of Florida, where a Biglaw partner was found dead in the water near his beachfront home this past weekend.

Douglas A. Wright, 60, the operations and finance partner of Holland & Knight’s office in Tampa, Florida, was found floating in the water just off Clearwater Beach on Sunday. While the medical examiner’s office has not yet determined the cause of his death, the firm said it is believed he died of a suspected cardiac event while swimming. The Tampa Bay Times has some additional details:

Police said that a Clearwater Fire and Rescue crew was called to retrieve a body at about 6 p.m. Sunday at the 1000 block of Eldorado Avenue, near a waterfront home listed in county records as Wright’s. Clearwater police spokesperson Rob Shaw said police don’t believe the death was suspicious. The body had no injuries, Shaw said, and there also appeared to be no boat or other vessel nearby. It is unknown how long he was in the water.

Wright, a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, worked at Holland & Knight for his entire career. An obituary posted on his law firm profile takes note of his dedication:

Mr. Wright’s financial acumen, management skills, and tireless dedication to the firm were critically important to Holland & Knight’s success over the past two decades. Even more important, he was widely admired for his kindness and generosity. He had an engaging personality, an extraordinary intellect, and a big heart. He was a much loved friend, partner, and mentor to many throughout the firm and the Tampa Bay community.

In the early 2000s, Wright was the subject of a sexual harassment inquiry at the firm. At the time, he denied making inappropriate comments or suggested he was joking with or teasing the women in question. The complaints against Wright were found to be “generally credible” by an outside firm’s investigation, and he was reprimanded internally at the firm. “I know that it impacted him,” said Angela Ruth, who worked with Wright for 16 years as executive director of the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation. “I believe that he just said, ‘I’m going to move forward. I’m going to do a lot of good, and I’m going to move forward.’ And that’s what he did.”

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According to the Tampa Bay Times, Wright was heavily involved in community service and pro bono activities, having served on the Council of Advisors for the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida, and as a former board member of United Cerebral Palsy of Tampa Bay, the Salvation Army, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, and the Spring of Tampa Bay.

Wright, who “always [had] a big smile on his face when he talked about his kids,” leaves behind three children and one grandchild.

We here at Above the Law would like to extend our condolences to Douglas Wright’s family, friends, and colleagues during this extremely difficult time.

Body found in water off Clearwater Beach identified as that of prominent lawyer [Tampa Bay Times]

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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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