A surge clamp circuit that may be implemented with DAA circuitry to limit the total voltage developed across one or more line side capacitors due to charge pumping phenomenon during a multi-transient events such as lightning strikes. The surge clamp circuit is capable of electronically sensing a transient event (e.g., lightning strike) and of momentarily turning on one or more components of a DAA hookswitch circuit during on hook mode to discharge the voltage developed across one or more line side capacitors before it reaches critical breakdown levels. The surge clamp circuit may be configured with a clamping sensitivity selected so that the DAA hookswitch circuitry is only activated or turned on upon occurrence of relatively large and potentially damaging transient events, and not upon occurrence of non-damaging transient events, such as operational signals.