Benjamin Daniels

Benjamin M. Daniels

(he/him/his)

Partner

Benjamin M. Daniels

(he/him/his)

Partner

  • Overview

    Biography

    Benjamin Daniels advises financial institutions and global corporations about litigation and dispute resolution. As a member of the Business Litigation Group, Ben provides creative and ardent advocacy during litigation, enforcement actions, investigations, crisis management, and white-collar defense matters.

    Financial Services Disputes

    Ben’s clients have come to expect practical and strong representation. He counsels several financial institutions, including investment banks, private-equity firms, portfolio companies, broker-dealers, SPACs, and fintech companies. He represents these institutions before all levels of federal court and state court, as well as before federal agencies such as the SEC and FINRA.

    Recently, Ben represented an international fintech corporation in several federal lawsuits; represented a creditor in a fintech bankruptcy; counseled SPACs and SPAC founders on securities litigation and shareholder disputes; and represented a global investment bank in government enforcement actions and concurrent securities litigation.

    International Business Disputes

    Ben’s clients often face complex, cross-border disputes. He has deep experience with the interplay between domestic and international courts, including discovery disputes and Hague convention proceedings. He also represents clients in international arbitrations and mediations.

    Recent highlights include representing U.S. aerospace companies in international arbitration; representing an industry-leading video game developer in international discovery; representing creditors in a multi-billion-dollar bankruptcy in international discovery; representing a former head-of-state in U.S. litigation; and representing a foreign sovereign in the U.S. Supreme Court.

    IP, Technology, and Manufacturing

    Ben has counseled several technology and manufacturing companies in matters ranging from contract disputes to intellectual property litigation. Among other things, he successfully represented three clients before the Federal Circuit; handled a complex-international patent litigation in the aerospace industry; and represented an international electronics manufacturer in patent litigation at both the trial and appellate levels.

    Past Experience & Clerkships

    Before joining Robinson and Cole, Ben worked for another major Connecticut-based firm, focusing on complex litigation and appellate law. Prior to that experience, he was an associate at a global law firm in New York City, focusing on complex litigation and government enforcement actions.

    Ben is the former co-head of the Appellate Litigation Project at Yale Law School, where his students represented indigent clients in the Second and Third Circuits

    Ben has clerked for two federal judges. He first clerked for Chief Judge Irma E. Gonzalez in the Southern District of California. He then clerked for Judge John M. Rogers of the Sixth Circuit.

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

        Aerospace & Manufacturing Litigation

      • Defended international aerospace company in a domestic patent-infringement dispute with a subsidiary of a major German airline. The airline demanded billions in alleged licensing fees, but we convinced the trial court to invalidate the German airline’s U.S. patent and the Federal Circuit to affirm. *

      • Defended international aerospace company in multi-national aspects of a patent-infringement dispute with a German airline. We assisted the client in resisting discovery in the United States, and advised them on strategy in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. We protected our client’s interests, helped them navigate thorny international issues, and obtained positive results in European courts. *

      • Represented an aerospace company in international arbitration against world’s largest airliner manufacturer, which resolved a dispute over a patent sublicense. *

      • Financial Services Litigation

      • Represented U.S. financial services company resisting U.S. discovery sought for use in proceedings in the United Kingdom. *

      • Defended major investment bank against federal investigations, congressional investigations, state investigations, civil actions by the Securities and Exchange Commissions, and shareholder lawsuits arising out of a merger with another major investment bank. *

      • Defended foreign bank in litigation concerning failed currency swap with major investment bank. Our client was facing multimillion-dollar liability, but we were able to secure a settlement for a fraction of the demand. *

      • Education Litigation and Counseling

      • Successfully represented private university in lawsuit and appeal involving efforts to co-educate a fraternity, securing on appeal a reversal of a mandatory injunction requiring the University to do business with the fraternity. *

      • Routinely represent education clients in connection with civil federal investigations in Connecticut and New York involving the Department of Education, with a concentration on sexual misconduct, hazing, and ADA compliance. *

      • Routinely advise colleges on all aspects of their policies and practices, including Title IX policies, student conduct boards, faculty handbooks, and issues concerning free speech and academic freedom. *

      • International and Sovereign Litigation

      • Defended sovereign nation in connection with an art dispute arising out of World War II. We appeared in the trial court, and the court of appeals, and ultimately secured a victory for our client in the U.S. Supreme Court. *

      • Represented former head of state in U.S. actions to obtain discovery to assist in criminal defense in his home country. *

      • Represented founder of major Canadian Internet content company in U.S. actions to uncover identity of person posting defamatory material on the Internet. *

      • Other Experiences

      • *Attorney Daniels was counsel in these representative transactions prior to joining Robinson+Cole.

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    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      American Bar Association

      Connecticut Bar Association

      National Association of College and University Attorneys

      Federal Practice

      New York City Bar Association
      Committee on Securities Litigation

      American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Selected as a Rising Star to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2015 to 2019

      Recognized as a New Leader in the Law by the Connecticut Law Tribune, 2017

      Named to the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) First 100 Plus Class of 2023 for demonstrating leadership and commitment to improving the lives of domestic violence survivors throughout Connecticut.

  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      "International Discovery Tool Kit Aims to Facilitate Discovery in Both Domestic and Foreign Litigation," co-authored with Jenna M. Scoville, published in the Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation (9/4/2023)
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      "Delaware Courts Rejecting SPAC Defenses," co-authored with Er (Arila) Zhou and Sabrina M. Galli, published in the New York Law Journal (5/15/2023)
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      "New Enforcement Tools in Regulating Cryptocurrency," co-authored with Trevor L. Bradley, published in the New York Law Journal (3/7/2023)
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      "Buzzfeed Case Highlights New Trends in SPAC Litigation," co-authored with Er (Arila) Zhou and Sabrina M. Galli, published in The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation (12/14/2022)
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      "Second Circuit Affirms HHS Rejection of Direct Copayment Assistance under Anti-kickback Statute," co-authored with Conor O. Duffy, published in Physicians Practice (9/16/2022)
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      "Litigation & Enforcement Fallout of the SPAC Boom," co-authored with Er (Arila) Zhou, Trevor L. Bradley and Jenna M. Scoville,, published in Bloomberg Law (August 2022)
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      "5th Circ. Ruling Signals Judicial Shift On SEC Admin Process," co-authored with Trevor L. Bradley, published in Law360 Expert Analysis (6/27/2022)
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    • Presentations

      Presentations

      "Clearing the Hurdles in International Discovery with Ben Daniels," an Emerging Litigation podcast (7/26/2023)
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    • News

      R+C in the News

      • July 31, 2023

        Ben Daniels Discusses International Discovery on Emerging Litigation Podcast

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      • May 17, 2023

        Ben Daniels, Arila Zhou and Sabrina Galli Discuss the Limiting of SPAC Defenses in New York Law Journal

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      • January 12, 2023

        Arila Zhou, Ben Daniels and Sabrina Galli Say Buzzfeed Case Portends Trends in SPAC Litigation in The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation

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      • November 22, 2022

        R+C Volunteers Present Junior Achievement Programs in Hartford School

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      • September 21, 2022

        Conor Duffy and Ben Daniels Author Article on Second Circuit Interpretation of the Anti-Kickback Statute for Physicians Practice

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      • September 2, 2022

        Benjamin Daniels, Arila Zhou, Trevor Bradley and Jenna Scoville Author SPAC Litigation Article for Bloomberg Law

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      • June 29, 2022

        Ben Daniels and Trevor Bradley Author Law360 Expert Analysis Article on Judicial Shift on SEC Admin Process

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      • January 14, 2022

        Ben Daniels Quoted in HBJ Article on University of Saint Joseph's Move to Co-Ed Undergraduate Programs

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      R+C News Releases

      • May 12, 2023

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Named to CCADV’s First 100 Plus Class of 2023

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      • December 22, 2022

        Robinson+Cole Elects Five Partners

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      • May 18, 2021

        Robinson+Cole Expands Litigation Practice

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    • Legal Updates/Newsletters

      Legal Updates/Newsletters

      "DOJ Announces Extension of Voluntary Self-Disclosure Guidance for Misconduct Discovered Through M&A Due Diligence" co-authored with David E. Carney, Edward J. Heath and Jennifer M. Driscoll (10/6/23)

      "DOJ Announces Significant Corporate Compliance Initiatives" co-authored with Edward J. Heath, Seth B. Orkand, Kevin P. Daly and Dan A. Brody (3/8/2023)

      "Changes to Conditions of SEC Rule 10b5-1 Obligations" co-authored with Mallori D. Thompson (2/24/2023)

      "With $1.1 Billion Penalty Deal, SEC Joins DOJ in Firing Warning Shot at Financial Services Industry About Outdated Employee Communications Policies" co-authored with Edward J. Heath and Dan A. Brody (10/5/22)

      "SEC Enforcement Action Demonstrates Importance of Robust Conflicts-of-Interest Practices in SPAC Transactions" co-authored with Edward J. Heath, Er (Arila) Zhou and Dan A. Brody (9/28/2022)

      "Supreme Court Limits Section 1782 Discovery in International Arbitrations" co-authored with Jenna M. Scoville (6/17/22)

      "Fifth Circuit Decision Threatens to Upend SEC’s Use of Administrative Proceedings" co-authored with Trevor L. Bradley (6/7/2022)

      "IP+T Intelligence Newsletter" co-authored with Jenna M. Scoville, John L. Cordani and Trevor L. Bradley (Q2 2022)

      "The Walsh Act: Discovery from U.S. Citizens Living Abroad" co-authored with Joshua L. Coker (5/10/2022)

      "Section 1782: Discovery in Support of a Foreign Proceeding" co-authored with Jenna M. Scoville (4/20/2022)