Douglas A. A'Hern

I possesses a unique combination of formal legal education and experience, senior U.S. government service and   operational field experience.  

I am a successful litigator who engages in federal and state criminal defense, visa and immigration benefits, immigration removal defense, administrative law defense and a wide variety of complex civil litigation. 

Before joining in the private legal field, I served with the United States Customs Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  These positions consisted of all levels of the organization; National Director, interim Border Enforcement Coordinator, Assistant Port Director, Chief Inspector, Supervisor, and Senior Inspector.  I served in these positions throughout the United States/Mexico Border region, internationally, and in Washington, D.C.

My service as a senior government manager includes policy development, data analysis systems development, Congressional affairs, budget allocation, human resources / labor union liaison work, and advanced targeting systems.

I focused my highly decorated field career on all aspects of federal law enforcement special operations, interdiction, immigration, investigations and intelligence.  My enforcement experience includes counter terrorism, international narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, intellectual property rights enforcement, fraud, money laundering, bulk cash smuggling, human trafficking and others.  

I have developed, taught and supervised advanced inter-modal interdiction training for military and law enforcement officials from the United States, Latin America, Eastern European countries, Russia, Hong Kong and others.  This work focused on counter-proliferation and arms trafficking interdiction, as well as systems processing problems identification and enhancement. 

I am a veteran of the United States Navy and has been awarded the Armed Services Expeditionary Medal

Education:

Master of Laws (LL.M.), Intellectual Property & Information Law, University of Houston Law Center  (2014)

Primary Focus: Copyright Law, International Intellectual Property, Licensing & Technology Transfer, Patent Law, Patent Prosecution, Trade Secrets, Trademarks & Unfair Competition

Master of Laws (LL.M.), International Law, University of Houston Law Center (2013)

Degree focus: US Import Regulation, National Security Law, Immigration Law & Business, Laws of Mexico, International Litigation, International Criminal Tribunals, Law of War & Use of Force, Anti-Corruption, Crime, Law & Social Policy

Juris Doctorate, South Texas College of Law, Dean's List 

 Concentration; Litigation, Procedure, Immigration, Criminal Law

Bachelors of Science, Criminal Justice, University of Houston-Downtown, Magna Cum Laude   

Admitted the Practice:

Supreme Court of Texas 

Southern District of Texas 

Eastern District of Texas (pending)