Douglas James Wood

Douglas J. Wood is a attorney specializing in intellectual property, communications and internet law, and entertainment and sports law. With over 45 years of experience, he has represented individuals and multinational companies in areas such as motion pictures, publishing, advertising, marketing, promotions, unfair competition, and e-commerce. In 2004, Wood joined Reed Smith LLP, where he founded the firm's Entertainment and Media Law practice group. Under his leadership, the group became one of the largest and most respected entertainment law practices globally. He also served on the firm's Global Executive Committee and as Managing Partner of its New York office. Wood retired as an equity partner in 2020 but continued as Senior Counsel until 2024 — In 2024, Wood established the Law Offices of Douglas J. Wood, PLLC, focusing on advising clients, mentoring lawyers, and supporting legal practice transitions. He has been recognized as a leading global specialist in advertising law by Chambers, the Legal 500, The Best Lawyers in America, and Super Lawyers. He is also a member of the Legal 500 Advertising Law Hall of Fame. Wood earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island in 1972.

He received his Juris Doctor from the Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1976 and an LL.M. in Trade Regulation from New York University School of Law in 1977. In 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of New Hampshire. He has served as General Counsel to several trade organizations, including the Association of National Advertisers, the Advertising Research Foundation, and the Advertising Council. Wood is also the chief negotiator for the Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations, representing the advertising industry in negotiations with SAG-AFTRA and the American Federation of Musicians. In addition to his legal career, Wood is an accomplished author. He has written several books, including a political thriller trilogy and a memoir titled "Asshole Attorney: Musings, Memories and Missteps in a 40-Year Career." He resides in North Carolina with his wife, Carol Ann. Has three children and five grandchildren. Wood is admitted to practice law in North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey — He is also a member of the Legal 500 Advertising Law Hall of Fame. In 2024, he was honored with the National Child Safety Award for his years of volunteer service and support to the Child Safety Network. Wood is also a novelist with nine other books: 101 Things I Want to Say…the Collection (2014), a book on fatherly advice; Presidential Intentions (2014), Presidential Declarations (2015).

Presidential Conclusions (2017), an award-winning political thriller trilogy about the first female President of the United States; Asshole Attorney: Musings, Memories and Missteps in a 40-Year Career (2018), winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award for Best Humor and Wit; Dark Data: Control, Alt, Delete (2020), a thriller about terrorism’s use of social media and winner of the 2020 Independent Press Award for Best Political Thriller; Dragon on the Far Side of the Moon (2021), a thriller pitting the United States and China against one another in colonizing the moon; Blood on the Bayou (2022), an award-winning novel set in New Orleans that pits a serial killer against an FBI profiler; and The Shakespeare Killer (2023), a sequel to Blood on the Bayou that follows his FBI profiler on a global search for a serial killer murdering criminal defense attorneys. In his spare time, he works on improving his golf game, a never-ending battle. Wood is also a novelist with nine other books: 101 Things I Want to Say…the Collection (2014), a book on fatherly advice; Presidential Intentions (2014), Presidential Declarations (2015). Presidential Conclusions (2017), an award-winning political thriller trilogy about the first female President of the United States; Asshole Attorney: Musings, Memories and Missteps in a 40-Year Career (2018), winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award for Best Humor and Wit; Dark Data: Control, Alt, Delete (2020), a thriller about terrorism’s use of social media and winner of the 2020 Independent Press Award for Best Political Thriller; Dragon on the Far Side of the Moon (2021), a thriller pitting the United States and China against one another in colonizing the moon; Blood on the Bayou (2022), an award-winning novel set in New Orleans that pits a serial killer against an FBI profiler; and The Shakespeare Killer (2023), a sequel to Blood on the Bayou that follows his FBI profiler on a global search for a serial killer murdering criminal defense attorneys. In his spare time, he works on improving his golf game, a never-ending battle. Wood is also a novelist with nine other books: 101 Things I Want to Say…the Collection (2014), a book on fatherly advice; Presidential Intentions (2014), Presidential Declarations (2015). Presidential Conclusions (2017), an award-winning political thriller trilogy about the first female President of the United States; Asshole Attorney: Musings, Memories and Missteps in a 40-Year Career (2018), winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award for Best Humor and Wit; Dark Data: Control, Alt, Delete (2020), a thriller about terrorism’s use of social media and winner of the 2020 Independent Press Award for Best Political Thriller; Dragon on the Far Side of the Moon (2021), a thriller pitting the United States and China against one another in colonizing the moon; Blood on the Bayou (2022), an award-winning novel set in New Orleans that pits a serial killer against an FBI profiler; and The Shakespeare Killer (2023), a sequel to Blood on the Bayou that follows his FBI profiler on a global search for a serial killer murdering criminal defense attorneys. In his spare time, he works on improving his golf game, a never-ending battle. Wood is also a novelist with nine other books: 101 Things I Want to Say…the Collection (2014), a book on fatherly advice; Presidential Intentions (2014), Presidential Declarations (2015). Presidential Conclusions (2017), an award-winning political thriller trilogy about the first female President of the United States; Asshole Attorney: Musings, Memories and Missteps in a 40-Year Career (2018), winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award for Best Humor and Wit; Dark Data: Control, Alt, Delete (2020), a thriller about terrorism’s use of social media and winner of the 2020 Independent Press Award for Best Political Thriller; Dragon on the Far Side of the Moon (2021), a thriller pitting the United States and China against one another in colonizing the moon; Blood on the Bayou (2022), an award-winning novel set in New Orleans that pits a serial killer against an FBI profiler; and The Shakespeare Killer (2023), a sequel to Blood on the Bayou that follows his FBI profiler on a global search for a serial killer murdering criminal defense attorneys. In his spare time, he works on improving his golf game, a never-ending battle.

Wood is also a novelist with nine other books: 101 Things I Want to Say…the Collection (2014), a book on fatherly advice; Presidential Intentions (2014), Presidential Declarations (2015). Presidential Conclusions (2017), an award-winning political thriller trilogy about the first female President of the United States; Asshole Attorney: Musings, Memories and Missteps in a 40-Year Career (2018), winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award for Best Humor and Wit; Dark Data: Control, Alt, Delete (2020), a thriller about terrorism’s use of social media and winner of the 2020 Independent Press Award for Best Political Thriller; Dragon on the Far Side of the Moon (2021), a thriller pitting the United States and China against one another in colonizing the moon; Blood on the Bayou (2022), an award-winning novel set in New Orleans that pits a serial killer against an FBI profiler; and The Shakespeare Killer (2023), a sequel to Blood on the Bayou that follows his FBI profiler on a global search for a serial killer murdering criminal defense attorneys. In his spare time, he works on improving his golf game, a never-ending battle. Wood is also a novelist with nine other books: 101 Things I Want to Say…the Collection (2014), a book on fatherly advice; Presidential Intentions (2014), Presidential Declarations (2015). Presidential Conclusions (2017), an award-winning political thriller trilogy about the first female President of the United States; Asshole Attorney: Musings, Memories and Missteps in a 40-Year Career (2018), winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award for Best Humor and Wit; Dark Data: Control, Alt, Delete (2020), a thriller about terrorism’s use of social media and winner of the 2020 Independent Press Award for Best Political Thriller; Dragon on the Far Side of the Moon (2021), a thriller pitting the United States and China against one another in colonizing the moon; Blood on the Bayou (2022), an award-winning novel set in New Orleans that pits a serial killer against an FBI profiler; and The Shakespeare Killer (2023), a sequel to Blood on the Bayou that follows his FBI profiler on a global search for a serial killer murdering criminal defense attorneys. In his spare time, he works on improving his golf game, a never-ending battle. Wood is also a novelist with nine other books: 101 Things I Want to Say…the Collection (2014), a book on fatherly advice; Presidential Intentions (2014), Presidential Declarations (2015). Presidential Conclusions (2017), an award-winning political thriller trilogy about the first female President of the United States; Asshole Attorney: Musings, Memories and Missteps in a 40-Year Career (2018), winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award for Best Humor and Wit; Dark Data: Control, Alt, Delete (2020), a thriller about terrorism’s use of social media and winner of the 2020 Independent Press Award for Best Political Thriller; Dragon on the Far Side of the Moon (2021), a thriller pitting the United States and China against one another in colonizing the moon; Blood on the Bayou (2022), an award-winning novel set in New Orleans that pits a serial killer against an FBI profiler; and The Shakespeare Killer (2023), a sequel to Blood on the Bayou that follows his FBI profiler on a global search for a serial killer murdering criminal defense attorneys. In his spare time, he works on improving his golf game, a never-ending battle. Wood is also a novelist with nine other books: 101 Things I Want to Say…the Collection (2014), a book on fatherly advice; Presidential Intentions (2014), Presidential Declarations (2015). Presidential Conclusions (2017), an award-winning political thriller trilogy about the first female President of the United States; Asshole Attorney: Musings, Memories and Missteps in a 40-Year Career (2018), winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award for Best Humor and Wit; Dark Data: Control, Alt, Delete (2020), a thriller about terrorism’s use of social media and winner of the 2020 Independent Press Award for Best Political Thriller; Dragon on