Hon. Douglas E. Arpert (Ret.)

The Honorable Douglas E. Arpert (Ret.) joined Walsh after a distinguished legal career spanning four decades, including 15 years as a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of New Jersey. He brings tremendous legal and judicial experience and an incredible insight into resolving highly complex disputes. Judge Arpert is a leader in the firm’s Mediation, Arbitration, and Special Master Appointments practice alongside the Honorable Mark Falk (Ret.).

Judge Arpert was appointed to his first term as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of New Jersey in April 2009. He was reappointed in April 2017. During his tenure as a U.S. Magistrate Judge, he presided over thousands of significant and often complex and high-stake pretrial matters, and he facilitated settlements in hundreds of complex commercial disputes. His extensive experience, coupled with his perceptive, even-handed, and creative approach to resolving disputes will be an immense asset to the firm’s lawyers and clients.

Prior to taking the bench, Judge Arpert served as the Managing Partner of a mid-sized law firm in northern New Jersey, specializing in complex commercial litigation, products liability defense, and the defense of ERISA-based life, health and disability claims for Fortune 500 companies and major insurance carriers. Before private practice, Judge Arpert served as both a municipal public defender and then a municipal prosecutor. As a result of these varied experiences and relationships both on and off the bench, Judge Arpert brings tremendous knowledge, insight, and a fresh perspective to resolving highly complex disputes.

Judge Arpert earned his law degree from Emory University School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Barrister and a National Finalist for the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, and a bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College. He also clerked for the Honorable Clarkson S. Fisher, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.