Daniel Watkins solves problems for founders, family offices, public figures, and companies navigating sensitive, high-stakes reputational matters where discretion and judgment are paramount. His practice combines a sophisticated trial practice—responsible for some of the largest defamation verdicts in American history—with a discreet advisory practice guiding clients through complex, fast-moving reputational risk.
He 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 experience includes representing Dominion Voting Systems in its $787.5 million election-disinformation resolution with Fox News; securing a $16 million defamation settlement in North Carolina; defeating an anti-SLAPP motion filed by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and her campaign; and defeating a motion to dismiss brought by Dow Jones & Company and The Wall Street Journal in a closely watched national defamation case.
Daniel also advises companies, investors, and boards during moments of heightened scrutiny—including proxy contests, activist campaigns, and short-seller events. His clients include technology companies such as Perplexity.ai and national retailers including PetSmart and Saks Global.
He has also represented owners of ten professional sports teams and advised executives and players navigating sensitive NBA and NFL matters, often securing retractions and corrections from major media outlets.
Daniel teaches “Disinformation and Defamation” at William & Mary Law School and frequently speaks on First Amendment and reputational risk issues.
Outside of his practice, Daniel lives on a small farm near Washington, D.C., where he enjoys spending time with his family.
Representative Matters
Represented Dominion Voting Systems in its historic defamation litigation against Fox News, resulting in a $787.5 million settlement,.
Secured an $8,000,001 jury verdict for global philanthropist an investor.
Represented owners of professional sports teams facing internal investigations and reputational attacks.
Defeated a motion to dismiss filed by Dow Jones & Company / The Wall Street Journal in November 2025 in high-stakes defamation litigation brought on behalf of a national mental-health company.
Defeated an anti-SLAPP motion filed by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and Greene for Congress on behalf of a mortgage company falsely accused of political retaliation.
Represented Perplexity.ai involving public-facing misinformation and industry-competitive communications.
Represented Saks Global in a libel case against online news publication.
Advised PetSmart and other national retailers facing misinformation.
Served as lead counsel in a $900 million commercial lawsuit against McDonald’s on behalf of a technology company that developed a solution for McDonald’s ice-cream equipment.
Obtained a $16 million settlement on behalf of Fredric Eshelman, founder of PPD, in defamation litigation against Puma Biotechnology.
Admissions
Washington, D.C.
Commonwealth of Virginia
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Education
University of Virginia School of Law
Previous Experience
Clare Locke LLP
Williams Mullen
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP (now Norton Rose Fulbright)