J. Daniel Sharp
Areas of Focus
Overview
J. Daniel Sharp is a senior counsel in Crowell & Moring's San Francisco office, and a member of the firm's Litigation Group. Mr. Sharp practices in trial and appellate courts and arbitration in several fields, including real estate, commercial contracts, professional liability, university affairs, corporate control disputes, and the representation of individual investors, corporate officers, and directors.
Career & Education
- University of Virginia, B.A., English Literature, with high distinction, 1981
- University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D., Order of the Coif; Editor-in-Chief, The Hastings Law Journal, 1987
- California
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Member, American Bar Association, Center for Professional Responsibility
- Member, Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL)
- Volunteer member, Mediation Panel, United States District Court, Northern District of California
J. Daniel's Insights
Firm News | 8 min read | 08.15.24
Washington – August 15, 2024: The 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® has recognized 42 Crowell & Moring lawyers as "Best Lawyers" and 29 lawyers as “Ones to Watch.”
Firm News | 8 min read | 08.17.23
Firm News | 7 min read | 08.18.22
Representative Matters
- Representing the University of California in obtaining a $50 million settlement and public apology from the University of Southern California and one of its faculty members over USC’s 2015 raid on an Alzheimer’s Disease research program at UC San Diego, a result reported on the front page of the Los Angeles Times as a “jaw-dropping conclusion” to “unprecedented litigation” concerning the protection of academic research.
- Defending venture capital investors and board members in Delaware litigation alleging violations of fiduciary duty in the capitalization of a start-up sustainable materials technology company. Obtained dismissals of all claims.
- Defending prominent law firm and attorneys from claims of legal malpractice by video game development company. Obtained dismissal of all claims.
- Defending university administrators from claims of civil rights violations arising out of student protests at UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Obtained dismissals of all defendants. Case reported at Felarca et al. v. Birgeneau et al., 891 F.3d 809 (9th Cir. 2018).
- Representing General Motors on appeal of adverse jury verdict in products liability/negligence case. Obtained reversal of $3.5 million jury verdict.
- Representing Silicon Valley semiconductor company against former employees and their companies in trade secrets litigation resulting in confidential settlement.
- Representing software company in commercial arbitration resulting in recovery of 100 percent of amounts claimed under a long-term license agreement, plus attorneys’ fees.
- Representing a green energy provider in federal litigation over sale of renewable energy credits. Obtained dismissal of all claims prior to discovery.
- Representing a private investment manager in commercial arbitration proceedings resulting in recovery of a $24 million award for breach of contract, conversion, and breach of fiduciary duty, including substantial punitive damages. Case reported at Bosack et al. v. Soward, 573 F.3d 891 (9th Cir. 2009).
- Representing a life insurance company on appeal. Obtained reversal of $6 million jury verdict for negligence, bad faith, and breach of contract.
- Representing a multi-billion dollar private company in a breach of contract and valuation dispute over $400 million in stock. Obtained summary judgment and affirmance on appeal for client.
- Representing a prominent Silicon Valley law firm in a legal malpractice action involving a merger transaction. Obtained summary judgment in favor of the law firm, and affirmance of the judgment in the California Court of Appeal.
- Representing technology law firm in avoid disclosure of privileged communications. Case reported at Venture Law Group v. Superior Court (Singhania), 118 Cal. App. 4th 96 (2004)
- Representing a financial institution in contract and tort litigation with developers over 13 residential real estate projects. Obtained a $64 million judgment in favor of the client after a combined jury/bench trial, and affirmance of the judgment on appeal.
- Representing various public and privately held real estate developers in connection with financing and contract disputes.
- Representing a private equity fund in contract litigation concerning the sale of a radio station.
- Representing various attorneys and law firms in connection with professional responsibility issues, including law firm transitions and claims of legal malpractice.
- Representing the California Judicial Council in appellate proceedings.
J. Daniel's Insights
Firm News | 8 min read | 08.15.24
Washington – August 15, 2024: The 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® has recognized 42 Crowell & Moring lawyers as "Best Lawyers" and 29 lawyers as “Ones to Watch.”
Firm News | 8 min read | 08.17.23
Firm News | 7 min read | 08.18.22
Insights
Ripening Conflict over Lawsuit Mootness
|10.28.13
The Daily Journal, Los Angeles and San Francisco
Who Owns Dissolved Entities' Privilege?
|05.17.13
The Daily Journal, Los Angeles and San Francisco
The Ironies of Attorney-Client Privilege in Shareholder Derivative Litigation
|07.14.11
The Daily Journal, Los Angeles and San Francisco
Will Mediation Become a Safe Haven for Attorney Malpractice?
|05.19.10
San Francisco Daily Journal
Goldstein v. Lees Revisited: The Current State of the Law in California Regarding Claims for Disgorgement of Attorneys’ Fees,
|01.02.07
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10.18.17
POLITICO Pro Health Care
Practices
Industries
J. Daniel's Insights
Firm News | 8 min read | 08.15.24
Washington – August 15, 2024: The 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® has recognized 42 Crowell & Moring lawyers as "Best Lawyers" and 29 lawyers as “Ones to Watch.”
Firm News | 8 min read | 08.17.23
Firm News | 7 min read | 08.18.22
