Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Class Actions and Mass Torts

Senior Trial Counsel - Litigation and Investigations

Dan is one of the firm’s most successful and experienced jury trial lawyers. His practice emphasizes product liability and other litigation. Dan has served as lead trial counsel for many major corporations in hundreds of high-exposure cases in state and federal courts around the country, including dangerous venues such as the City of St. Louis and Jackson County in Missouri, Cook, Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois, Hinds County, Mississippi, Hidalgo County, Texas and Los Angeles County, California.

Dan has been a fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers since 1997. Based on a poll of his peers, Dan was selected by Best Lawyers as "Lawyer of the Year" in his practice area in St. Louis for 2015, 2018, 2020 and 2021. He also was selected in 2020 for the inaugural America's Most Honored Lawyers (top 5% of all attorneys in the U.S. as recognized by award organizations). He also is Band 1 in Chambers.

Dan has served as a lead counsel in multiple multi-district litigations in various venues. He has also served as the leader of national and regional counsel defense teams for several companies and has assisted companies in the development of product liability defense programs. His practice focuses not only on defending companies in litigation but also on counseling manufacturers regarding efforts to reduce litigation. Dan has been involved extensively in the negotiations of multiple nationwide mass tort settlements.

Dan has represented manufacturers of a wide variety of products including multiple pharmaceuticals, medical devices, child car seats, tires, automobiles, forklifts, power tools, children’s products, all-terrain vehicles, trucks and trailers, and railroad equipment. He also has been lead counsel in several commercial litigation disputes, including business tort lawsuits and multi-state class actions.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & HONORS Chambers USA - Band 1, 2005-2023 The Best Lawyers in America©, 1997-2023 Benchmark Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, 2022 Missouri "Local Litigation Star," Benchmark Litigation Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, 2021 Best Lawyers® 'Lawyer of the Year' - Personal Injury Defense - St. Louis, 2018, 2021 Best Lawyers® 'Lawyer of the Year' - Product Liability Defense - St. Louis, 2015, 2020 America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators for Missouri, 2019 Top 50 Lawyers in St. Louis, Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyers Legal 500 US Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers International Who's Who of Business Lawyers - Product Liability PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS The American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow Product Liability Advisory Council - Sustaining Member Defense Research Institute Lawyers for Civil Justice - Member