• Daniel M. Ketani is a versatile litigator who handles complex commercial litigation, securities and shareholder litigation, and white collar criminal and regulatory defense matters. Dan defends and prosecutes actions in trial and appellate courts across the United States, as well as in international arbitration. He also defends individuals and entities in civil and criminal inquiries and enforcement proceedings, including those by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Attorney’s Office, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Dan has particular experience working with clients in the financial services and digital asset industries.

    Dan also dedicates significant time to pro bono matters. He successfully persuaded the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, in a unanimous decision, to reverse a client’s felony conviction because of juror misconduct and improperly admitted propensity evidence. Dan has also represented clients, including Everytown for Gun Safety and PEN America, in amicus briefs in appeals courts across the United States, arguing in support of the constitutionality of age-based restrictions on the purchase of firearms and a constitutional right to a basic minimum education, among other issues.

    Experience

    • Represents funds of a private equity firm in fraud action seeking to recover more than $200 million in investment losses.

    • Represents a cryptocurrency exchange and stablecoin issuer in regulatory matters.

    • Represents a digital asset investment vehicle in corporate control litigation.

    • Represents a former Big Four audit partner in a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board investigation.

    • Represented a diagnostics, clinical lab and life sciences company in shareholder and proxy contest litigation.

    • Represented a private equity firm in litigation related to potential financing.

    • Represented a global construction, manufacturing and engineering conglomerate in U.S. litigation and international arbitrations in Paris and Houston relating to the collapse of a joint venture.

    • Represented, as part of the defense team, a former executive of a Fortune 100 company in connection with an insider-trading investigation, successfully persuading the U.S. Attorney’s Office and SEC not to file charges against the client.

    • Represented a cybersecurity and cryptocurrency mining company in civil litigation and regulatory matters.

    • Represented an executive of a Fortune 1000 company in connection with an investigation by the DOJ and SEC of alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

    • Represented a former executive of a financial institution in a DOJ investigation and civil enforcement action relating to the sale of mortgage-backed securities.

    • Represented a former executive of an automotive parts company in a DOJ fraud investigation.

    Credentials

    Education

    • J.D., Columbia Law School, 2014
      • Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
      • Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems, Articles Editor
    • B.A., Economics, with honors, New York University, 2010

    Bar Admissions

    • New York, 2015

    Court Admissions

    • U.S.D.C., Southern District of New York
    • U.S.D.C., Eastern District of New York
    • U.S.C.A., 9th Circuit
    • U.S.C.A., 11th Circuit

    Focus Areas

  • Perspectives

    • Articles
      Nov. 01, 2023
      Proposed Expansion of Auditor Liability Would Be Ill-Advised
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    • Client Alerts
      June 07, 2023
      Supreme Court Unanimously Narrows Scope of Liability Under Section 11(a) of Securities Act of 1933
      Read More
    • Articles
      March 21, 2023
      Utilizing Advance Notice Bylaws in Activist Investor Defense
      Read More
    • Defining Matters
      March 13, 2023
      Everytown for Gun Safety and Kramer Levin Amicus Brief Helps Secure Eleventh Circuit Ruling That Florida’s Age-Based Restrictions on the Purchase of Firearms Are Constitutional
      Read More
    • Articles
      March 01, 2023
      The Journal of Federal Agency Action
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    • Client Alerts
      Dec. 08, 2022
      SEC Charges Investment Adviser for Failing to Adequately Disclose ESG Investment Policies and Procedures
      Read More
    • M&A Monitor
      July 21, 2022
      Once More Unto the (Material) Breach: Twitter Sues Elon Musk to Enforce Agreement
      Read More
    • Client Alerts
      July 12, 2022
      Supreme Court Rejects EPA’s ‘Clean Power Plan’ in Decision Raising Questions About the SEC’s Climate-Related Disclosure Rules
      Read More
    • Articles
      Feb. 02, 2022
      Delaware Supreme Court Holds That Seller's Changes to Operations Because of COVID-19 Breached the Ordinary Course Covenant and Relieved Buyer of its Obligation to Close
      Read More
    • COVID-19 Legal Resource Guide
      Dec. 21, 2021
      Delaware Supreme Court Holds That Seller’s Changes to Operations Because of COVID-19 Breached the Ordinary Course Covenant and Relieved Buyer of Its Obligation to Close
      Read More
    • Defining Matters
      Nov. 03, 2021
      Kramer Levin Files Amicus Brief for Everytown for Gun Safety Supporting Florida Age-Based Firearms Restrictions
      Read More
    • M&A Monitor
      Aug. 03, 2021
      Sustained or Transitory? Delaware Court of Chancery Finds No MAE Absent Proof of Durationally Significant Effect on Business
      Read More
    • COVID-19 Legal Resource Guide
      May 24, 2021
      An Ounce of Prevention: Delaware Court of Chancery Orders Specific Performance in Private Equity Deal Nearly a Year After Deal Collapse
      Read More
    • COVID-19 Legal Resource Guide
      Feb. 18, 2021
      What’s Past Practice Is Prologue: A Recap of Recent Developments in COVID-19-Related Delaware M&A Litigation
      Read More
    • Defining Matters
      Jan. 29, 2021
      Kramer Levin Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of Everytown for Gun Safety Supporting California Age-Based Restrictions on the Sale of Firearms
      Read More
    • Defining Matters
      Jan. 21, 2021
      Kramer Levin Obtains Unanimous Reversal of Conviction on Appeal for Pro Bono Client
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    • COVID-19 Legal Resource Guide
      Aug. 03, 2020
      Delaware Court of Chancery Dismisses on the Pleadings M&A Specific Performance Claims
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    • COVID-19 Legal Resource Guide
      June 03, 2020
      Sue First, Talk Later: Lessons From Recent Delaware Court of Chancery Decisions on Expediting Proceedings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
      Read More
    • Defining Matters
      May 14, 2020
      Kramer Levin Amicus Brief Helps Secure Victory Recognizing Constitutional Right of Access to Literacy
      Read More
    • Defining Matters
      Nov. 27, 2018
      Kramer Levin Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of PEN America in Sixth Circuit
      Read More
    • Defining Matters
      Oct. 30, 2018
      Kramer Levin Files Amicus Brief for Everytown for Gun Safety and The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence in Florida Supreme Court
      Read More
    • Announcements
      April 05, 2018
      Kramer Levin Receives the President’s Pro Bono Service Award from the NYSBA
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    • Announcements
      March 26, 2018
      Kramer Levin Congratulates the 4th Annual Marvin Frankel Pro Bono Award Winners and Thanks Pro Bono Challenge Participants
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    • Media Mentions
      Nov. 27, 2017
      Kramer Levin’s Pro Bono Partnership with Brooklyn Defender Services’ Bail Initiative Highlighted in The Atlantic
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    • Articles
      2016
      Chapter Three: The Federal Law of Bribery and Extortion, White Collar Crime: Business and Regulatory Offenses
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    • Articles
      July 23, 2015
      Recent Lessons in D&O Fee Advancement and Indemnification
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  • Recognition

    2017- 2019
    Marvin Frankel Pro Bono Award
    Outstanding Pro Bono Contributions