Dane Butswinkas focuses his practice on trial and arbitration work. Based on his extensive experience trying cases throughout the United States in both state and federal courts, Law360 named him one of the top fifty "Trial Aces" in the nation. Benchmark Litigation recognized Dane as "National Commercial Lawyer of the Year" in February 2016.
Chambers USA reported that clients describe Dane as “‘[a]n extraordinary trial lawyer’ who is known for his ‘fantastic courtroom presence.’” Benchmark Litigation emphasized Dane’s “celebrated trial acumen,” noting that he is “recommended by his peers and clients alike for his ‘absolute trial-ready preparedness.’” The Legal 500 reported that clients single Dane out as a “once in a lifetime generation trial lawyer.”
A truly versatile commercial litigator, Dane has developed insight and experience in numerous sectors at the heart of the global economy. Dane’s experience in the financial services sector includes defending financial institutions, directors, officers, and countries in civil and criminal litigation involving securitizations, hedge funds, bond and mortgage markets, investment vehicle structuring, and corporate governance. He also defends corporations, directors and officers in actions arising under securities laws, deceptive trade practice statutes, RICO, ERISA, and the Clayton and Sherman Acts, as well as in grand jury investigations.
Dane’s diverse experience also includes defending corporations and individuals in product liability actions, including pharmaceutical companies in trials such as the Nexium, Baycol, Vioxx, and Seroquel litigations; in medical malpractice trials; and in the most significant defamation case to go to trial in many years.
In other sectors, Dane has defended companies in the food, telecommunications, technology, and power industries in commercial litigation throughout the United States as well as in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Dane also has a significant track record representing corporations in domestic and international arbitrations before the AAA and the ICC.
Dane joined the firm in 1989. He served on the firm's Hiring Committee from 1992-2004 and four terms on the firm's Executive Committee, including having served as the firm’s Chairperson. He was appointed by the Virginia Supreme Court to serve on the faculty of the Virginia State Bar Professionalism Course (2004-2007). Dane is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and Benchmark Litigation identified Dane as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America.
Updated Sep 2024