Former DOJ Appellate Attorney Daniel Lerman Joins Kramer Levin as Deputy Chair of Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation Practice

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kramer Levin announced today that Daniel N. Lerman, a former appellate attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, has joined the firm as a partner in its nationally recognized Litigation Department. He will litigate matters at both the trial and appellate levels and serve as deputy chair of the Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation practice and be resident in the firm’s Washington, DC, office.

During his six years with the Appellate Section of the Criminal Division of the DOJ, Mr. Lerman briefed numerous U.S. Supreme Court cases, argued on behalf of the United States in federal courts of appeals across the country and advised on complex appellate issues.

At Kramer Levin, he will focus on trial and appellate matters involving criminal law, intellectual property law, constitutional law, commercial litigation, securities law, bankruptcy law, environmental law and administrative law, drawing on his extensive public and private sector experience and his Ph.D. in biology. Throughout his career, Mr. Lerman has worked across a wide array of industries, including pharmaceuticals, health care, transportation, technology, energy, hedge funds and many others.

Early in his career, Mr. Lerman clerked for renowned Judges William C. Bryson and David S. Tatel of the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal and DC circuits, respectively.

Prior to serving with the DOJ, Mr. Lerman spent eight years as a trial and appellate litigator at the DC litigation boutique Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck & Untereiner LLP, which combined with Kramer Levin in 2022. He was promoted to partner at Robbins Russell in 2017.

While at Robbins, Russell, Mr. Lerman argued and won before the U.S. Supreme Court a challenge on behalf of the American Trucking Associations to the City of Los Angeles’ Clean Air Action Plan regulations imposed at the Port of Los Angeles, securing a unanimous decision from the Court that reversed the district court and Ninth Circuit decisions and found that the regulations were preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994.

“Dan is an extraordinary lawyer. His impressive track record at the DOJ and at Robbins Russell enhances the depth of our Supreme Court and Appellate practice,” said Kramer Levin co-managing partners Paul H. Schoeman and Howard T. Spilko.

In 2023, The National Law Journal recognized Kramer Levin’s Supreme Court and Appellate practice on its Appellate Hot List.

“Dan joins us at a pivotal moment for individuals and businesses navigating the reputational and legal risks of complex litigation. His background in government and as a successful appellate lawyer with broad practice experience makes him a uniquely valuable resource for our clients,” said Roy T. Englert Jr., co-chair of the firm’s Supreme Court and Appellate practice.

“My decision to join Kramer Levin was driven by the firm’s reputation for successfully defending clients in a wide array of high-stakes cases,” Mr. Lerman said. “I am excited to rejoin my partners in Washington and contribute to the firm’s innovative trial and appellate work across bankruptcy, commercial and intellectual property litigation, and high-profile white collar cases.”

Jennifer S. Windom and Gary A. Orseck, co-managing partners of Kramer Levin’s DC office, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Dan back to the DC office. His arrival underscores our commitment to attracting premier talent and bolsters our ability to strategically represent clients.”

Mr. Lerman earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, his Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of Chicago, and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Brown University.

About Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Kramer Levin provides its clients with proactive, creative and pragmatic solutions that address today’s most challenging legal issues. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Silicon Valley, Washington, DC, and Paris and fosters a strong culture of involvement in public and community service. For more information, visit www.kramerlevin.com.