Douglas Varley Named President of Caplin & Drysdale

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 7, 2020: Caplin & Drysdale proudly announced today that Douglas Varley has been named President of the Firm. Clark Armitage, who held the post for three years, will continue to create solutions for our clients as a Member of the Firm’s International Tax and Tax Controversy groups. “Doug brings his breadth of experience and true leadership skills, as well as his extensive knowledge and wisdom to the position,” said Mr. Armitage. “The firm will continue to provide outstanding client service with all of the attributes that make Caplin unique with Doug at the helm.”

Upon the announcement, Doug, a long-time member of the Firm's Board of Directors and head of the firm’s Exempt Organizations Group, said “being given the opportunity to serve the Firm as president is a real honor. I’m excited to begin this new role and am confident that our values—professional excellence, creativity, and service—will continue to serve us well as we work to find legal solutions for our clients.”

Doug is a distinguished figure in the nonprofit community. Most recently, he was recognized as Lawyer of the Year for 2021 by Best Lawyers for his work with the nation's leading private foundations, philanthropists, public charities, and other nonprofit organizations. Doug has been fortunate to advise many of the country’s most prominent charitable institutions. His clients come to him for his judgment on legal and ethical matters honed over years of advising on questions of critical importance to his clients. Doug is widely recognized as a national leader in the nonprofit bar advising on efforts by tax-exempt organizations, particularly private foundations, to shape public policy. As leader of the Exempt Organizations Group, he has continued the firm’s historic commitment to remaining an industry leader in the private foundation field.

Doug has served on the Board of Trustees of several national nonprofit organizations, including the National Audubon Society, the NRDC Action Fund, Open Society Policy Center, and Earthjustice. He also taught a course on nonprofit law for many years as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center.