Dan is a significant fixture in the Delaware Bar despite his youth, and businesses turn to him to protect their intellectual property, defend them against major class action suits, and represent them in complex business litigation. Additionally, Dan is highly active in his community, leading teams in the American Heart Association’s Wilmington Heart Walk and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Take Steps Walk.
Age: 35
Partner
McCarter & English
Wilmington
Social media you can’t live without: I use LinkedIn for business (although probably not enough) and try to keep Facebook limited to personal use.
Your biggest break: Accepting a job with McCarter as a young associate. The firm and culture of the Delaware office fit with my personality and allowed me to flourish both personally and professionally.
Best career advice you ever got: Two things come to mind: if you do what you love, it is not “work,” and keep things in perspective – regardless of how difficult of a day you have had, many others have it worse.
How you give back: I serve on the board of Delaware Volunteer Legal Services, a pro bono legal services organization, I’m a member of the executive committee of the Carpenter-Walsh Pro Bono Inn of Court, and I routinely handle custody and visitation litigation on a pro bono basis for indigent clients.
Your biggest challenge: Professionally, my biggest challenge is letting go of the reins and delegating work to others. Personally, it is a constant challenge to find the right balance between work, family and personal time.
Networking group you use the most: I network in various legal circles, but prefer one-on-one meetings/interactions and being introduced to people by mutual acquaintances.
Work-life balance technique you recommend: I try to get up pretty early in the morning to get a jump on the day and either work out or do some work with the hopes that I might get home a little earlier at night.
