About Dan

Top-tier Wisconsin litigation counsel

Dan Conley is an experienced trial lawyer who has represented corporations, executives and lawyers in state and federal trial and appeals courts in Wisconsin and across the country. With over 30 years of experience in roles ranging from law clerk (E.D. Wis.) to trial advocate to business advisor, expert witness and trustee, he represents clients in:

  • Business disputes and litigation
  • Class actions
  • Crisis response
  • Legal malpractice defense

A “lawyer’s lawyer,” Dan maintains a band 1 rating from Chambers USA and has successfully represented clients in mediation and arbitration in addition to his trial advocacy. He has significant experience handling cases in Wisconsin's Commercial Court Pilot Program, leading and serving on Wisconsin and 7th Circuit bar and local rules committees in helping clients and in courts throughout Wisconsin both as lead and local counsel.

Dan leads the crisis management team. He previously served for many years as legal counsel to Quarles and is a past chair of the firm's Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group and Class Action team.

Experience in Action

  • Advising on commercial disputes and litigation arising from alleged contract violations and business torts.
  • Representing clients in litigation and complex class actions involving a wide range of claims, including antitrust, securities, warranty, data breach, privacy, ERISA, merger and acquisition, product liability and consumer fraud.
  • Defending individual lawyers and law firms in bar investigations and legal malpractice cases.
  • Leading crisis response teams and investigations, including sensitive matters subject to high levels of media scrutiny.

Successes

  • Defeated, successfully tried or resolved numerous class actions and appeals in matters such as securities, antitrust, ERISA, consumer fraud, warranty, merger and acquisitions, tort and product liability claims.
  • Challenged and had struck down a state law as violative of the Commerce Clause.
  • Led many outside crisis response teams and investigations on matters ranging from alleged executive misconduct to catastrophic explosions and workplace deaths.
  • Acted as a lead negotiator in the sale of an NBA franchise.
  • Successfully defended a number of the nation’s leading law firms and their lawyers in legal malpractice actions and bar investigations.
  • Successfully resolved many bet-the-company cases for Wisconsin mid-market businesses.
  • Negotiated a $350 million settlement for a client in a complicated three-way dispute over a casino that required multiple levels of government approval.

Professional Recognitions

  • Chambers USA® (Litigation)
  • Best Lawyers in America® "Lawyer of the Year" (2018: Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2017, 2020: Litigation - Securities, 2022, 2024: Litigation - Environmental)
  • Wisconsin Super Lawyers® "Top 50 Attorneys" (2019-2023)
  • Wisconsin Law Journal "Wisconsin Leader in the Law" (2015)
  • State Bar of Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society (2015)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV 5.0/5.0 Peer Review Rated
  • Best Lawyers in America® (Commercial Litigation / Health Care Law / Litigation – Environmental / Litigation – Intellectual Property / Litigation – Securities / Bet-the-Company Litigation)
  • Wisconsin Super Lawyers® (Business Litigation)

Professional & Civic Activities

  • Honorable John W. Reynolds, chief judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, law clerk (1985–1987)

Federal and State Court Committees

  • Past Court Appointed Member of the Local Rules Committees for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Eastern District of Wisconsin Standing Committee on Indigent Defense, and Wisconsin Judicial Conduct Advisory Committee

Significant Bar Activities

  • President of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association (2006-2007); Board of Directors for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association (2003-2009); Former Chair of CLE and Courts Committees for the Milwaukee Bar Association

News & Insights

Education

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

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