PRACTICE AREA

Dan's practice focuses on appellate and First Amendment (particularly media law) litigation. He also litigates a broad variety of complex disputes involving commercial and private parties in federal and state trial courts. As an appellate advocate, he has represented clients in the United State Supreme Court, the United States Courts of Appeal for the First and Second Circuits, and the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate courts. His media practice includes representing newspapers and other publishing entities in defamation matters and cases seeking access to court proceedings and files.

Dan is also an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he teaches privacy law. He is frequently quoted on First Amendment and privacy issues, is the author of numerous articles and columns on appellate practice and First Amendment issues, and is a frequent lecturer on these topics. Dan is currently president of Connecticut Foundation for Open Government. He has received numerous awards for his work on behalf of government access and transparency, including the Society of Professional Journalist's 2009 Helen M. Loy Freedom of Information Award, the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information's 2007 Stephen Collins Award and the Connecticut Bar Association's 2007 "Pro Bono" Award. He has been recognized as a Connecticut and New England "Super Lawyer" in the area of appellate practice. Dan is a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Hartford County Bar Association.

EDUCATION

ADMITTED

MEMBERSHIPS

American Bar Association
Connecticut Bar Association
Hartford County Bar Association
Boston Bar Association
Connecticut Foundation for Open Government, President (2008 to present)
Connecticut Council for Freedom of Information, Member
Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford, Past President and Chairman of the Board
Connecticut Bar Association Appellate Practice Committee, Co-Chair (Sept. 2006-June 2009)
Connecticut Bar Association Appellate Certification Task Force, Co-Chair (Sept. 2005-June 2006)
Connecticut Bar Association Attorney Advertising Review Committee, Member

TEACHING

University of Connecticut School of Law, Adjunct Professor (2003 to present)

Presentations and Seminars

Keynote Speaker, Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission Annual Conference (2009)

Panel Moderator, Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission Annual Conference (2008)

Panel Member, "Preserving the Record For Appeal" (2009) (sponsored by Connecticut Bar Association)

Presenter, Connecticut Rules of Evidence (Seminar for Connecticut Probate Judges) (2007)

Panel member, Forum for journalists on the new Connecticut "Shield Law" (2006) (Sponsored by the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists)

Panel member, Forum on the First Amendment (2005) (Sponsored by University of Connecticut Department of Public Policy)

Speaker, "Government Interference in Personal Relationships" (2005) (Sponsored by Connecticut Paralegal Association)

Panel member, "Privacy: Where Should the Media Draw the Line?" (2001) (Sponsored by Connecticut Bar Association)

Panel member, "FOI and Technology: Uses and Abuses" (2001) (Sponsored by Connecticut Freedom of Information Conference)

Presenter, "Winning on Appeal: The Art of Persuasion in Connecticut Appellate Practice" (2001-2002) (Sponsored by Connecticut Bar Association)

Author, "The Billable Hour Blues" (A CD of satirical songs about the law) (2004) (Produced and published by the Connecticut Law Tribune)

• Why Businesses Need To Care About Judicial Openness In Connecticut
• Pendente Lite Attorneys' Fee Orders In Family Law Cases
• Top 25 of 2005 Leading Decisions of The Connecticut Supreme Court
• Top 25 of 2007- Leading Decisions of the Connecticut Supreme Court
• Top 25 of 2008 - Leading Decisions of the Connecticut Supreme Court
• Supreme Court "Greenlights" Student Strip Searches for Dangerous Drugs