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Daniel A. Berman
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Daniel A. Berman, Appellate Attorney in Los Angeles, California

Over 34 years of legal practice · focused on Appellate, Business, and Entertainment · 5.0/5 rating from 1 verified client review

Chairman and Co-FounderatWood Smith Henning Berman Llp

Los Angeles, CA

Practicing appellate in Los Angeles since 1992.

34+
Years practicing
5.0 ★
1 client review
1
Bar admission

Practices in

AppellateBusinessEntertainmentEnvironmentalGeneralHealth Care+8 more →

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Quick answer

Daniel A. Berman is a chairman and co-founder based in Los Angeles, CA. The practice focuses on Appellate, Business, and Entertainment. Daniel has over 34 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Wood Smith Henning Berman Llp. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 1 client review.

Based in
Los Angeles, CA
Experience
over 34 years
Known for
Appellate · Business · Entertainment
  • Handles Appellate, Business, and Entertainment matters from Los Angeles, CA.
  • Over 34 years of practice as a licensed attorney.
  • Recognized with AV Preeminent.

About Daniel A. Berman: Daniel A. Berman is a chairman and co-founder based in Los Angeles, CA. The practice focuses on Appellate, Business, and Entertainment. Daniel has over 34 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Wood Smith Henning Berman Llp. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 1 client review.

Areas of practice

Legal matters Daniel takes on

Daniel concentrates on appellate, business, entertainment, environmental, and general. Each area below outlines the kind of case Daniel handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.

Appellate cases in Los Angeles, California

Daniel takes appellate matters in Los Angeles, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Daniel agrees to represent you.

Business cases in Los Angeles, California

Daniel takes business matters in Los Angeles, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Daniel agrees to represent you.

Entertainment cases in Los Angeles, California

Daniel takes entertainment matters in Los Angeles, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Daniel agrees to represent you.

Environmental cases in Los Angeles, California

Daniel takes environmental matters in Los Angeles, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Daniel agrees to represent you.

General cases in Los Angeles, California

Daniel takes general matters in Los Angeles, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Daniel agrees to represent you.

Biography

Meet Daniel A. Berman — appellate lawyer in Los Angeles

Daniel A. Berman is a chairman and co-founder based in Los Angeles, CA. The practice focuses on Appellate, Business, and Entertainment. Daniel has over 34 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Wood Smith Henning Berman Llp. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 1 client review.

Dan Berman co-founded Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman in 1997 with three partners and a conviction that the defense bar was ready for reinvention. As Executive Chairman, Dan has spent nearly three decades driving large-scale strategy and operational growth. He transformed a two-office California startup into one of the country's leading national litigation defense firms. Today, the firm has over 550 attorneys and more than 40 offices, coast to coast. All growth was built organically, without a single merger or acquisition.

Dan brings more than 20 years of experience as a frontline litigator. He has tried cases of every level of complexity on behalf of Fortune 500 corporations, mid-market businesses, and some of the world's largest domestic and international insurance carriers. That ground-level experience gave him something no consultant could replicate. He gained a precise understanding of where law firms waste time, lose money, and leave value on the table for clients.

Drawing on that foundation, he built something the industry had never seen. He created portfolio-wide analytics that give clients genuine visibility into their litigation programs: cross-matter spend, outlier identification, venue intelligence, and indemnity benchmarking. The legal industry took notice. In 2026, Dan was named Legalweek Innovator of the Year.

As Executive Chairman, Dan sets WSHB’s direction and drives growth. He ensures the firm’s vision stays aligned with client needs. He also serves as trusted counsel to a select group of companies, advising on high-stakes litigation strategy and program management. Day-to-day execution belongs to the exceptional lawyers he and his partners have spent 30 years recruiting and developing. Dan’s role is to make sure the whole system works-and never stops improving.

Beyond the firm, Dan serves on the City of Hope National Insurance Industry Council Board of Directors, the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors, and the Palisades YMCA Board of Directors. He is an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and has been named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s LA500 Most Influential People list. He also teaches at the Litigation Management Institute at Columbia University Law School and Loyola (Chicago) Law School - because changing an industry means investing in the leaders who will carry it forward.

Newsroom

News

•WSHB Executive Chairman & Co-Founder Daniel Berman Named Legalweek Innovator of the Year
Firm News, 3.10.26

Community Activities

•City of Hope National Insurance Industry Council Board of Directors
•Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors
•Palisades-Malibu YMCA Board of Directors
•YPO Santa Monica Bay Charitable Foundation Board of Directors
•CLM Advisory Board
•CLM Litigation Management Task Force Steering Committee
•California Building Industry Association Legal Action Subcommittee

In the News

•WSHB Executive Chairman & Co-Founder Daniel Berman Named Legalweek Innovator of the Year

Honors & Recognitions

•Winner, Innovator of the Year - Law Firm (Individual) at the Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards (2026)

•AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
•Named a Southern California Super Lawyer (2006 - 2014, 2016 - 2024, 2026)
•Los Angeles Business Journal's LA500 Most Influential People List (2018 - 2020, 2025)
•Finalist, 'Best Managed National Firm,' Managing Partners' Forum (MPF) Awards (2015)
•Finalist, 'Outside Counsel of the Year Award,' Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) (2015)
•Senior fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
•Barrister, Order of Justitia
•Corporate Counsel, Business Litigation (2010 - 2011)
•Named a Southern California Rising Star (2004)

Daniel's approach to appellate cases

Dan Berman co-founded Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman in 1997 with three partners and a conviction that the defense bar was ready for reinvention. As Executive Chairman, Dan has spent nearly three decades driving large-scale strategy and operational growth. He transformed a two-office California startup into one of the country's leading national litigation defense firms. Today, the firm has over…

Clients Daniel works with

Daniel reviews new inquiries case-by-case for appellate, business, and entertainment matters in Los Angeles and the surrounding California area.

Credentials

Education, bar admissions, and languages

  • Loyola Law School, Los Angeles,

    J.D. · 1992

  • University of California at Santa Cruz

    B.A. · 1989

Jurisdictions

Daniel's state bar admissions

  • California

    1992 · ACTIVE

Daniel studied at J.D. in Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and B.A. in University of California at Santa Cruz.

Law school and academic background

Daniel completed J.D. in Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and B.A. in University of California at Santa Cruz. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Daniel runs in California is where that training gets applied to real client questions.

Recognition

Recognition and thought leadership

Daniel has received 1 formal recognition from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.

  • AV Preeminent

Legal awards and honors

AV Preeminent.

Affiliations

Daniel's professional memberships and bar associations

  • (RIMS) •Defense Research Institute

    DRI · membership

Locations

Daniel A. Berman's office in Los Angeles

Daniel's primary office is at 401 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1070, Los Angeles, CA, 90024-3702. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.

Main office

Wood Smith Henning Berman Llp

401 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1070

Los Angeles, CA 90024-3702

Open in Google Maps

Client feedback

Client reviews of Daniel A. Berman — 5.0/5 rating from 1 verified client review

Every review below is from a verified client of Daniel. Reviews cover communication, case outcome, and value — the three signals that matter most when comparing appellate attorneys in Los Angeles.

5.0

1 client review

Client ratings are sourced from public records and editorial research. Reviews on LawyersListed are accepted from verified clients once Daniel A. Berman claims this profile.

Read all reviews

Hiring guide

How to hire Daniel A. Berman — what to expect in your first consultation

Working with a new appellate attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Daniel usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.

Consultation formats and pricing

Daniel charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Daniel's office.

What to bring to your first meeting

Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Daniel will tell you what matters and what doesn't.

Questions to ask a appellate attorney in Los Angeles, California

A short list to run through before you commit: How many appellate matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?

Fees & payment

Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Daniel

Daniel discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in appellate practice — ask which fits.

Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options

Every appellate matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Daniel confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.

Payment methods and payment plans

Daniel's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many appellate practices work with clients on structured schedules.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about Daniel A. Berman

  • How much does it cost to hire Daniel for a appellate case?

    Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Daniel walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.

  • Does Daniel offer a free consultation?

    Daniel charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Daniel's office. Some appellate attorneys offer free consults — check Daniel's current terms during booking.

  • How long do appellate cases in California typically take?

    Simple appellate matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Daniel gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.

  • Can Daniel take my case if I'm outside Los Angeles?

    Daniel is licensed in California. Matters governed by California law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Daniel will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.

  • What should I bring to my first meeting with Daniel?

    Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Daniel will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.

  • Is Daniel accepting new appellate clients right now?

    Daniel's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Areas served

Appellate attorneys serving Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego in California

Daniel handles appellate matters throughout California. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified appellate attorneys in that community.

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