Derek Gaubatz
Biography
Derek Gaubatz brings over twenty years of in-house and litigation experience serving the domestic and international legal needs of ministries, non-profits, and social impact businesses. His practice focuses on the law of religious and other tax-exempt organizations, international law, constitutional law, appellate litigation, internal investigations, and employment and human resources law.
Before joining Gammon & Grange in 2020, he served as General Counsel for the International Mission Board, directing their legal affairs in the United States and navigating the local laws of over 100 different countries. Prior to that, Mr. Gaubatz served as Director of Litigation for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, earning his status as a recognized religious liberty expert. He began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Edward Carnes of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Mr. Gaubatz received his Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School in 1997, where he served as President of the Federalist Society.
Personal Note:
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, Calfornia and despite having lived on the East Coast for more than twenty years, I still miss the beautiful coast and perpetually sunny skies of Southern California. My wife Judy and I live just outside of Richmond, Virginia. We are tremendously blessed with three children (and one loyal dog). In my spare time, you will likely find me rooting for the the Los Angeles Dodgers, coaching my son’s or daughter’s baseball/softball teams, serving in my local church, enjoying conversation over a strong cup of Peet’s Coffee, or reading history books by David McCullough.
Education
Stanford Law School, Palo Alto, California
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Honors: With Distinction
University of California, San Diego
Bachelor of Arts (Economics & Political Science)
Honors: Summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admission
Virginia
District of Columbia
California
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
Publications and Presentations
RLUIPA at Four: Evaluating the Success and Constitutionality of RLUIPA’s Prisoner Provisions, 28 Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy (2005)
Past Positions
General Counsel, International Mission Board, 2007 to 2019
Director of Litigation,Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, 2001-2007
Litigation Associate,Wilmer, Cutler, and Pickering, 2000-2001
Law Clerk, United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, 1997-1999
Teacher Experience
Visiting Professor of Constitutional Law, Handong International Law School Korea, Fall 2011
Visiting Professor of Foreign Constitutional Law, Chinese University of Political Science and Law, China, Spring 2006
Professional Associations
Executive Member of the Federalist Society’s Religious Liberties Practice Group
ECFA Panel of Legal Experts:Commission on Accountability & Policy for Religious Organizations
Practice Areas:
- Nonprofit and Exempt Organizations
- International Law
- Employment and Human Resources
- Internal Investigations
- Social Impact Businesses
- Religious Liberties
- Civil and Appellate Litigation