Daniel Watkins solves problems for founders, family offices, public figures, and companies navigating sensitive, high-stakes reputation matters where discretion and judgment are paramount. His practice spans two spheres: a sophisticated trial practice that has delivered some of the largest defamation verdicts in American history, and a discreet advisory practice for clients facing complex reputational risk.

Daniel is one of only six attorneys nationwide ranked by Chambers & Partners for First Amendment Litigation (Mainly Plaintiff) and High Net Worth: Defamation / Reputation Management—and is the youngest lawyer ever to earn this distinction.

As lead trial counsel in Chandler v. Berlin, he secured an $8,000,001 jury verdict—the largest individual jury award in Washington, D.C. in 2024, and the second-largest defamation verdict ever reported in the nation's capital.

His prior matters include representing Dominion Voting Systems in its $787.5 million election-disinformation resolution with Fox News; co-leading the team that obtained a $16 million defamation settlement in North Carolina; and successfully defeating an anti-SLAPP motion filed by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and her campaign. In November 2025, his team also defeated a motion to dismiss brought by Dow Jones & Company and The Wall Street Journal in a closely watched national defamation case.

Daniel maintains a niche practice advising companies and investors involved in proxy contests, activist campaigns, and short-seller events, where reputational and market volatility intersect. His clients include public and private companies navigating takeover pressure, market rumors, and contested-control situations.

Separately, he advises select technology companies—including Perplexity.ai—and national retailers such as PetSmart and Saks Global on managing reputational risk, media scrutiny, and high-velocity public-relations challenges.

Daniel’s broader litigation experience includes serving as lead counsel in a $900 million false advertising case against McDonald’s on behalf of a technology company, and obtaining a $16 million settlement for an entrepreneur in a defamation matter against a biotech company.

He is also a trusted advisor in the sports world, having represented owners of ten professional sports teams, and counseled executives and players navigating sensitive NBA and NFL controversies. His work has prompted retractions and corrections from The Washington Post, Bloomberg News, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Newsweek, and a public on-air retraction from Stephen A. Smith.

He is a frequent speaker on defamation and First Amendment issues. Daniel teaches “Disinformation and Defamation” at William & Mary Law School and has lectured at Georgetown and the University of Virginia School of Law.