Phelps Dunbar Adds Bankruptcy Atty From Clark Partington
Law360 published this article on May 21, 2026.
A former attorney with Clark Partington Hart Larry Bond & Stackhouse has moved his bankruptcy and creditors' rights cases and complex business litigation practice to Phelps Dunbar LLP's Pensacola, Florida, office.
Douglas Bates has two decades of experience and bolsters Phelps Dunbar's capabilities in bankruptcy and insolvency law across the Gulf South, the firm said in an announcement Wednesday.
"I've known the folks in the Pensacola office of Phelps for a very long time. Many of them are lifelong friends, so getting the opportunity to practice in the Phelps Pensacola office is appealing for that reason," Bates said in an interview with Law360 Pulse Thursday. "But when you look at Phelps more across the Gulf South region, I'm excited for the opportunity to grow my practice across the footprint that Phelps serves."
Bates is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and focuses his practice on bankruptcy and creditors' rights matters.
Additionally, Bates advises clients in a wide range of business litigation matters, particularly in shareholder disputes and business divorces.
"I do mostly work with individuals and businesses to try to find solutions to the problems that inevitably arise when there's financial distress or insolvency, and try to make those solutions as efficient as possible, because a lot of times the financial distress scenario time is of the essence. We work on finding those efficient solutions," Bates said. "My experience goes back to probably prior to the Great Recession and then during the Great Recession. I've helped out in lots of different economic cycles and try to help clients through those."
Outside his daily work, Bates has been involved in the Florida Bar's business law section. That experience included leading several committees and serving as chair of the section from 2022 to 2023.
"Doug is an outstanding lawyer and a leader in our community," said Bill Mitchem, Pensacola office managing partner, in a statement. "We've known Doug for many years, and we are very fortunate to have him join our firm. He strengthens our bench as we expand our commercial litigation and creditor's rights practices to support clients in northwest Florida and across the region from Mobile to Tampa."
Bates is a Pensacola native and longtime member of the Pensacola State College Foundation. He served as president of the foundation's board of governors and as chair of the board of directors of the Pensacola Sports Association.
A graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Bates holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Birmingham Southern College, according to his biography on the firm's website.
Bates joined Phelps Dunbar just one year after the firm expanded its Florida presence into Pensacola through a combination with Beggs & Lane.
Phelps Dunbar is home to more than 450 lawyers and maintains 18 locations across the Gulf South, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and the London market.
