Daniel L. Schwartz

Overview

Daniel "Dan" Schwartz represents employers in a wide variety of litigation matters, including but not limited to claims alleging wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, breach of contract, whistleblower retaliation, violation of wage statutes and infliction of emotional distress. He represents companies and individuals in injunction hearings arising from and related to non-competition, non-solicitation and/or confidential information agreements. Dan also defends schools and other institutions from negligence and other claims arising from allegations of inappropriate sexual relationships and conduct. In conjunction with his active litigation practice, Dan counsels and advises employers on hiring procedures, drug testing, employment contracts, employee handbooks, employee benefit plans, internal investigations, accommodation of disabilities, harassment prevention, employee disciplinary issues, termination decisions and other employment-related issues. Dan assists clients in avoiding litigation, in developing the best available defenses to litigation, and, where necessary, in prevailing in litigation.

As a senior partner with more than thirty years of experience, Dan often serves in the role of outside general counsel. In this capacity, he coordinates with other partners at the firm to assist clients in addressing a wide variety of legal issues, including, but not limited to, construction contracts, land use, environmental issues, property leases, vendor contracts, tax issues, social media issues, contract disputes, succession planning, joint ventures and corporate governance. The clients with whom Dan regularly works include private equity firms, hedge funds, family offices, wealth managers, investment banks, insurers, banks, credit unions, manufacturers, restaurants, private and parochial schools, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations.

Dan consistently has been ranked as a recognized practitioner for Labor and Employment in Connecticut by Chambers USA* (Chambers & Partners), The Best Lawyers in America* (Woodward/White, Inc.).

*No aspect of these advertisements have been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology

Experience

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Sucessfully defended hedge fund at trial against a lawsuit filed by its former Chief Operating Officer alleging whistleblower retaliation, defamation and related claims and seeking more than $100 million in damages

Successfully defended hedge fund in an arbitration where a former business development executive sought over $5 million in post-separation commissions

Defending private school in putative class action alleging that the school failed to properly supervise a former information technology employee who allegedly surreptitiously copied intimate photographs of students

Successfully defended investment advisor firm in an arbitration where former senior executives sought pre-judgment remedy of $20 million

Represented Fortune 500 company in EEOC nationwide class action investigation regarding alleged failure to accommodate pregnant employees

Represented an investment bank in clawing back bonus of $250,000 and recovering attorney's fees from form vice president who made false representations to induce payment of bonus

Defended private schools in multiple cases alleging educator sexual abuse, negligence, and failure to supervise

Defended several employers in sexual harassment claims arising from #MeToo movement

Defended hedge fund in an arbitration where terminated analyst sought allegedly promised bonus in excess of $1 million

Obtained summary judgment in federal district court and affirmance from Second Circuit Court of Appeals in a case where terminated employee alleged disability discrimination based on alcoholism

Obtained jury verdicts in favor of defendant employers in several different age, race and gender discrimination cases

Obtained temporary restraining orders and/or preliminary injunctions in several different matters to prevent former employees from breaching non-competition and/or non-solicitation agreements

Represented employer before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in case where the Court reversed jury verdict of $400,000 for the terminated employee and directed judgment in favor of employer

Obtained finding of no liability on behalf of the defendant employer in an arbitration where the plaintiff former CEO sought in excess of $9 million in additional stock options and restricted stock

Obtained a finding of no liability in favor of the defendant hedge fund in arbitration where the plaintiff former analyst alleged gender discrimination and sought in excess of $2 million in damages

Successfully defended a large manufacturer at a CHRO public hearing where the claimant alleged a sexually hostile work environment

Obtained summary judgment decisions in favor of defendant employers in multiple discrimination, breach of contract cases, and other cases

Obtained no liability decisions from FINRA arbitration panels in several different cases seeking more than $1 million in damages based on claims of unsuitable investment advice, negligent supervision, and/or misrepresentation

Education and Credentials

Education

J.D., 1988, Order of the Coif; associate editor, University of California at Berkeley Law Review
Princeton University, B.A., cum laude, 1985, In Economics

Admissions

State of Connecticut
State of New York
State of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
U.S. Supreme Court

Affiliations

American Bar Association
Fairfield County Bar Association
U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut Special Master
2001 Fairfield County Leadership Program

Recognition and Community

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.

Recognitions

Selected as the Employment Law – Individuals Lawyer of the Year for the Stamford Metro Area by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), 2026

Selected as the Employment Law – Management Lawyer of the Year for the Stamford Metro Area by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), 2020-2021, 2023, and 2025-2026

Chosen for inclusion in Chambers USA Legal Directory (Chambers & Partners) of recognized practitioners for Labor and Employment in Connecticut, 2005-2025

Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), Employment Law – Individuals, 2011-2026; Employment Law – Management, 2011-2026, Labor Law – Management, 2011-2026, Labor Law – Union, 2011-2026

Chosen for inclusion in Band 1 of the Chambers USA Legal Directory (Chambers & Partners) of recognized practitioners for Litigation: Labor and Employment in Connecticut, 2017-2023

Selected to the list of Connecticut Super Lawyers^®, Employment and Labor, 2006-2025

Chosen in the Stamford Area by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.) as Labor Lawyer of the Year, 2013 and 2017

Selected to the list of Super Lawyers^®, Corporate Counsel edition, 2010

Community Involvement

Stamford Museum & Nature Center, Executive Committee of Board of Directors, 2014-2025

Former deputy district attorney, Alameda County, CA, 1989-1991

Former federal court law clerk, 1988-1989

News & Insights

In The Media

Publications

Connecticut Enacts Employee Online Privacy Law, Employee Relations Law Journal, August 19, 2015
Connecticut Enacts Employee Online Privacy Law, Employee Relations Law Journal, May 21, 2015

Media Mentions

4 Tips For Avoiding Issues When Offering Sabbaticals, Law360, April 18, 2023
4 Vacation Time Tips For Employers As Year Winds Down, Law360 Employment Authority, November 1, 2022
5 Tips for Employment Lawyers in the Age of COVID-19, Connecticut Law Tribune, November 30, 2020
What Attorneys Need to Know About New Sexual Harassment Law, September 26, 2019
What Employees Can Legally Say on Facebook-and Get Away With, Corporate Counsel, December 21, 2015

Speaking Engagements

2020’s Title IX Overhaul: Views from the Bar and the Bench, November 24, 2020
Know the Risks of Hiring Independent Contractors, November 18, 2020

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