Daniel T. Fahner

Managing Partner

daniel.fahner@rkfglobal.com

 

Dan brings two decades of private sector and government experience to RKF Global.  He is experienced in counseling his clients – big and small – on a broad range of complex commercial and business litigation matters, government and corporate internal investigations, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and defense of employment claims involving harassment, discrimination and retaliation.  His experience in conducting corporate internal investigations and consulting with clients includes counseling on a wide range of issues, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and various state and federal regulations.

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Dan represents litigants in state and federal courts and before government and regulatory agencies, as well as in arbitration and mediation forums.  He also counsels clients on contract, products liability, bankruptcy, and intellectual property matters, with added regulatory experience in diverse areas, including immigration and disability rights.

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Dan’s practice is complemented by his history of government service.  Dan served as a political appointee in the George W. Bush Administration in the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.  In 2005, Dan joined the Department of Homeland Security as special assistant to the assistant secretary in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  In that position, Dan handled a wide variety of policy and legal issues related to ICE’s enforcement of immigration and customs laws.  From 2007 to 2009, he worked for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Civil Rights Division as counsel to the Assistant Attorney General and for the Office of Legal Policy as Senior Counsel.  In these roles, Dan supervised the enforcement of federal anti-discrimination statutes, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and a wide variety of employment and immigration laws.  Additionally, he analyzed complex legal and regulatory issues and coordinated the DOJ’s efforts for a number of policy initiatives, including those involving disability rights and immigration.  In both capacities, Dan regularly worked with the White House, other Executive Branch agencies, and Congress on regulatory and legislative issues.

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Prior to joining RKF Global, Dan was a partner in a large, international law firm, where he tried high-profile cases, advised domestic and international clients, and served as outside general counsel for several companies, coordinating a broad range of legal services.

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Dan also remains committed to serving in various civic and charitable organizations in the Chicago community.  For several years, Dan served as a member of the Board of the LEARN Charter School Network, including as Board Chair.  LEARN is a not-for-profit network of ten public, college preparatory elementary schools serving more than 4,000 scholars in underserved neighborhoods in Chicago, Waukegan and North Chicago.

 

Selected Representations

 

Litigation

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• Obtained full defense verdict after bench trial for former Illinois State Constitutional officer alleged to have engaged in retaliation against State employees for their participation in protected conduct; and successfully resolved separate litigation, including a §1983 action alleging various First and Fourth Amendment and civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act violations.

• Obtained dismissal of action at pleadings stage against company alleged to have breached contract and defrauded former consultant.

• Successfully and favorably settled claims against company by former CEO who alleged fraud, conversion of stock and breaches of fiduciary duty.

• Resolved numerous employment discrimination lawsuits through mediation and/or arbitration.

• Defended and tried before a jury a fraudulent advertising case.

• Represented clients in mechanics lien and foreclosure matters.

• Prosecuted on behalf of a large corporation a number of federal trademark and counterfeiting cases that were resoled through settlement, summary judgment and trial before a jury.

• Represented various corporations in trade secret litigation.

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Investigations and White-Collar Defense

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• Represent privately owned companies and executives in various DOJ and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigations.

• Conducted several internal investigations for a gaming entity relating to a variety of employment and regulatory issues.

• Represented a private manufacturer in a grand jury investigation of FCPA violations regarding sales of equipment to a foreign country; received a no prosecution letter.

• Conducted FCPA compliance for a multinational retail corporation.

• Represented a large mobile network operator in connection with an investigation of consumer complaints by a Wisconsin regulatory body; the investigation was concluded and the matter was closed without regulatory action.

• Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of a special committee in connection with a matter pending before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

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Awards and Affiliations

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Barrister, Chicago Inn of Court

Member, Federal Bar Association

Member, Illinois State Bar Association

Selected by peers as a Leading Lawyer for Commercial Litigation and Federal Regulatory Law (2015-2022)

 

Admissions & Qualifications

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Illinois, 2000

District of Columbia, 2009

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Courts

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United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

United States District Court for the Northern District of California

 

Education

 

Northwestern University School of Law, 2000, J.D.

University of Michigan, 1997, B.A., Political Science

 

Services

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Litigation, Regulation and Investigations

White Collar Litigation and Government Investigations

Commercial Litigation

Employment Litigation

ADA Public Accommodation and Accessibility Litigation and Counseling

Trade Secrets, Proprietary Information & Noncompetition/Nondisclosure Agreements

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