Daniel Girard founded the firm in 1995 to offer dedicated, professional representation to everyday Americans. Dan believes that individuals who work hard and play by the rules deserve the same focused, skillful representation enjoyed by corporations, banks, and insurance companies. Under Dan’s leadership, Girard Sharp has become one of the most respected and experienced class action law firms in the United States, consistently delivering outstanding results in challenging cases.
Dan has been appointed by federal courts to lead class actions brought under a range of federal and state laws, often involving investments and consumer financial services matters. Dan currently serves as lead counsel in the GWG Holdings Securities Litigation in the Northern District of Texas, the Wells Fargo J&J Investments Litigation in the District of Nevada and the PFA Insurance Marketing Litigation in the Northern District of California. He recently served as counsel for investors in the Woodbridge Investments, Jay Peak EB-5 Investments, Peregrine Financial Group and Provident Royalties cases, all of which involved parallel bankruptcy and criminal or regulatory proceedings against investment promoters. He has led successful class actions in such areas as securities, corporate governance, telecommunications, unfair competition, federal statutory rights, predatory lending, sexual abuse, product liability, and constitutional law.
In addition to individuals, Dan’s past and present clients include municipal and state employee retirement systems, public employee unions, financial institutions, property and casualty insurers, and NYSE companies.
Dan has been privileged to serve the federal court system through his work on federal rulemaking committees. He was appointed by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist to the United States Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Civil Rules in 2004 and served on the Civil Rules Committee through 2010. Chief Justice John G. Roberts appointed Dan to the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure in 2015 and reappointed him to a second term in 2018. Dan’s article, “Limiting Evasive Discovery: A Proposal for Three Cost-Saving Amendments to the Federal Rules,” 87 Denver University Law Review 473 (2010), proposed several rule amendments that were ultimately adopted in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34(b)(2).
Dan serves as a member of the Council of the American Law Institute, where he chairs the Audit Committee and serves on the Membership and Development Committees. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2012, and as a Northern California Super Lawyer since 2007. He is a longstanding member of the American Bar Association, Section on Business Law, Corporate and Business Litigation Committee.
J.D., University of California at Davis School of Law, 1984
B.A., Cornell University, 1979, American History
In re Office of Personnel Management Data Breach Litigation
Lead counsel in action on behalf of federal employees and applicants against United States and federal contractor following penetration of personnel record database. Settlement for $63 million.
Woodbridge Investments Litigation
Lead counsel in action against Comerica Bank following collapse of real estate investment scheme and arrest of founder. Settlement for $54.2 million.
In re JPMorgan Precious Metals Spoofing Litigation
Executive committee member in action against JPMorgan Chase & Co. for market manipulation in violation of the Commodities Exchange Act. Settlement for $60 million.
In re Capacitors Antitrust Litigation
Executive committee member in coordinated antitrust litigation for price fixing in market for capacitors. Total recoveries over almost a decade in excess of $600 million.
A.B. v. Regents of the University of California
Lead counsel in action against UCLA Medical Center officials in action arising out of serial sexual abuse committed by medical center physician. Recovered $73 million for abuse survivors and negotiated comprehensive court-approved reforms.
Jay Peak EB-5 Investment Visa Litigation
Member of leadership team in litigation against Raymond James Financial relating to EB-5 Visa investment project to develop Jay Peak resort in northern Vermont. Recovery of $150 million.
In re Sony Pictures Employee Data Breach Litigation
Lead counsel in action on behalf of employees affected by cyberattack attributed to North Korea following release of film The Interview; led negotiation of settlement for cash and identity theft insurance.
In re Peregrine Financial Group
Lead counsel in action against US Bank following collapse of Peregrine Financial Group, prosecuted in coordination with federal bankruptcy trustee and Commodities Futures Trading Commission. Recoveries totaled over $70 million.
In re Provident Royalties, LLC/Medical Capital
Lead counsel in a class action against broker-dealer Securities America Inc. and its corporate parent, Ameriprise Inc., in connection with sales of Provident Royalties and Medical Capital investment schemes. Led settlement negotiations resulting in a $150 million settlement for the federal class action and individual investors in arbitration proceedings.
In re Lehman Brothers Equity/Debt Securities Litigation
Lead counsel for certified class of retail investors in action against UBS Financial Services, Inc. following collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. Settlement for $120 million settlement.
In re American Express Financial Advisors Securities Litigation
Co-lead counsel in a class action on behalf of individuals who alleged that American Express steered its clients into underperforming “shelf space funds” to reap kickbacks and other financial benefits. Negotiated a cash settlement of $100 million and additional relief.
Scheiner v. i2 Technologies, Inc., et al.
Co-lead counsel in, represented Kansas Public Employees Retirement System in securities fraud action on behalf of investors in i2 Technologies. Negotiated cash settlements of $88 million from the company, its officers, and its former auditor (Arthur Andersen LLP), and corporate governance reforms.
In re Corrections Corporation of America
Lead counsel in securities action brought by investors against a real estate investment trust and its officers and directors following false statements the defendants allegedly made in the context of a merger. Negotiated a settlement for over $104 million in cash and stock.
CalSTRS v. Qwest Communications
Co-lead counsel for California State Teachers Retirement System in securities fraud opt-out action against Qwest Communications, Inc., certain of its officers and directors, and outside auditor Arthur Andersen. Settled for $45 million.
Natural Gas Antitrust Cases I, II, III, IV
Member of the Executive Committee in coordinated antitrust litigation against numerous natural gas companies for manipulating the California natural gas market. Settled for total recovery of $160 million.
Mitchell v. American Fair Credit Association
Lead counsel in action alleging that American Fair Credit Association (AFCA) operated an illegal credit repair scheme. Over $40 million in refunds and other relief.
Ho v. San Francisco Unified School District
Lead lawyer for San Francisco public school students of Chinese descent in civil rights action seeking to terminate racial and ethnic quotas imposed under 1983 desegregation consent decree. Settled on the first day of trial, with SFUSD and California State Board of Education agreeing to end quota system and mandatory racial “self-identification.”
In re GWG Holdings Securities Litigation
Lead Counsel for investors in defaulted GWG Holdings “L Bonds” issued by GWG Holdings in action for violation of federal securities laws.
In re J&J Investments Litigation
Lead Counsel for investors in action against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., following collapse of litigation finance investment scheme and arrest of founder Mattew Beasley.
In re Silvergate Capital Corporation
Lead Counsel for customers of FTX cryptocurrency exchange in action against Silvergate Bank following collapse and arrest of founder Samuel Bankman-Fried.
In re PFA Insurance Marketing Litigation
Lead Counsel for purchasers of indexed universal life insurance policies in action against independent marketing organization and insurer for deceptive sales practices.
Community & Professional
We are proud to announce that 12 Girard Sharp lawyers have been recognized in the 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars listings for
We are pleased to announce that eight lawyers at Girard Sharp LLP have earned a place in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in
Dena Sharp recognized among Top 50 Women Attorneys, Top 100 Attorneys We are proud to announce that 11 Girard Sharp lawyers have been recognized in
Judge Edward J. Davila of the Northern District of California on February 10, 2023 appointed Girard Sharp and Susman Godfrey to serve as co-lead counsel
2022 marked another year of focused, collaborative effort by our close-knit team, with some notable achievements, several high-stakes cases set for trial in 2023, and
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