Douglas C. Emhoff is Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at the USC Gould School of Law. He is a partner in the global law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, with more than three decades of experience and leadership in the legal profession.

Emhoff’s areas of expertise span global markets, policy and the law, and he advises corporations, boards of directors and individual clients on significant legal matters, ranging from important business challenges to complex litigation.

During his tenure as Second Gentleman, Emhoff represented the Biden-Harris Administration around the country and in diplomatic engagements around the world. Emhoff led the Administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism and other forms of hate, including the development of the first-ever National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism; advocated for equal access to legal aid and the removal of legal barriers in the justice system; promoted small businesses and the arts; convened religious leaders for interfaith dialogues; and advanced U.S. sports diplomacy efforts, including by representing the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and the 2023 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand. And, throughout the 107 days of Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, he crisscrossed the nation campaigning for his wife, engaging with diverse communities, building coalitions, and speaking on behalf of her historic campaign.

Prior to his time as a public servant, Emhoff practiced law for nearly 30 years, advising companies and leaders in business and technology hubs worldwide, managing high-profile disputes and solving complex problems across entertainment, media, sports, technology and business.

Emhoff earned his JD from USC Gould in 1990 and BA from CSU Northridge in 1987. He previously taught entertainment law and alternative dispute resolution as adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Emhoff remains involved in civic engagement activities and supporting local communities.