Daniel A. Sasse

Overview

Clients describe Dan as “bringing together commercial awareness and vision, as well as great sophistication and knowledge,” “incredibly responsive,” “cerebral but also understands how businesses work in connection with litigation,” and “a fierce cross-examiner at trial.” Dan co-chairs Crowell’s Antitrust and Competition Group and co-leads the firm’s affirmative Recovery Practice. His practice focuses on all aspects of antitrust and competition law, including litigation; government investigations; defending mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures; and compliance issues. He has extensive experience in regulated industries including health care, telecommunications, and energy. In 2023, Dan helped successfully lead the defense trial team in Pacific Surf Designs Inc. v. Whitewater West Industries Ltd., which the Daily Journal named one of the “Top Verdicts” for that year.

Dan has devoted a substantial portion of his practice to antitrust cartel litigation on both sides of the “v.” This practice includes defending clients in criminal investigations and civil litigation as well as representing many Fortune 500 companies as plaintiffs in recovery actions when they have been the victim of price-fixing cartels. Dan has helped clients recover more than $5 billion in recent years and has helped turn legal departments from cost centers into profit centers.

Chambers USA, Global Competition Review, and Southern California Super Lawyers have consistently named Dan as one of the top antitrust lawyers in the country.

Dan is a former member of Crowell’s Management Board, the co-chair of its Finance Committee, and serves on the firm’s Racial Equity Task Force. Dan is also heavily involved in Crowell’s award-winning pro bono program. For these efforts and more, the Daily Journal has recognized Dan as one of "10 Emerging Law Firm Leaders in California."

Outside of the firm, Dan is a leader in the Orange County Bar and community organizations. He is past-president of the Orange County Chapters of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the Federal Bar Association. He is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and has served as a lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and as a member of the Central District of California Local Rules Committee.

Before joining Crowell, Dan clerked for two years for the Honorable H. Dean Whipple, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. At Emory, Dan was a member of the Emory International Law Review and Jessup International Moot Court Team.

Career & Education

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Valparaiso University, B.A., summa cum laude, 1994
Emory University School of Law, J.D., with distinction, 1997
- Valparaiso University, B.A., summa cum laude, 1994
- Emory University School of Law, J.D., with distinction, 1997
California
District of Columbia
Missouri
- California
- District of Columbia
- Missouri
Professional Activities and Memberships

Past-President, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Orange County Chapter

Past-President, Federal Bar Association, Orange County Chapter

Former Lawyer Representative to Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference

Member, CD Cal Local Rules Committee

Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Past-President, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Orange County Chapter
- Past-President, Federal Bar Association, Orange County Chapter
- Former Lawyer Representative to Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference
- Member, CD Cal Local Rules Committee
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Daniel's Insights

Press Coverage | 10.08.24

US Judge Grapples With Tangle Of Antitrust Suits Over Real Estate Broker Fees After Predecessor’s Recusal

Press Coverage | 08.05.24
Biglaw Paralegal Makes History At 2024 Paris Olympics
Press Coverage | 08.02.24
The Crowell & Moring Paralegal Who Made History Refereeing at the Paris Olympics
Firm News | 9 min read | 06.06.24
Crowell Attains Leading Rankings in Chambers USA 2024

View All Insights

Representative Matters

Served as trial counsel for Compass Real Estate leading to a nationwide settlement of multiple class actions related to commissions in residential real estate transactions.
Representing leading health plans in antitrust monopolization litigation relating to branded pharma improperly excluding biosimilar medication from the market.
Representing leading health plans in “pay for delay” antitrust litigation relating to HIV cART medication and improperly excluding generic medication from the market.
Representing leading health plans in “pay for delay” antitrust litigation relating to Zetia and Vytorin medication and improperly excluding generic medication from the market.
Achieved a trial victory for Whitewater Industries, a leading designer and manufacturer of sheet wave machines. Successfully defended against claims by a competitor that our client had monopolized the surfing machine industry and entered into an anticompetitive restraint of trade.
Served as trial counsel for a major U.S. automobile manufacturer as a plaintiff in the In re Polyurethane Foam Antitrust Litigation.
Served as trial counsel for a major U.S. automobile manufacturer as a plaintiff in the In re Vehicle Carrier Services Antitrust Litigation.
Served as trial counsel for a major computer manufacturer OEM as a plaintiff in the In re Optical Disk Drive Antitrust Litigation.
Served as trial counsel for a major hotel chain in Section 1 multidistrict litigation price-fixing class action, successfully having the client dismissed at the motion to dismiss stage. In re OTC Booking Antitrust Litigation.
Served as trial counsel for Yamaha Corporation of America in the FTC's investigation into minimum advertised price policies for musical instruments, and follow-on civil litigation, successfully having the case dismissed at the motion to dismiss stage. In Re Musical Instruments In re Musical Instruments Antitrust Litigation.
Representing corporate clients that purchased Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs), in price-fixing litigation to recover overcharges caused by international cartel, In re CRT Antitrust Litigation.
Representing corporate clients that purchased Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panels, in price-fixing litigation to recover overcharges caused by international cartel, In re TFT-LCD Antitrust Litigation.
Served as trial counsel for a major automobile filter manufacturer in Section 1 multidistrict litigation price-fixing class action, successfully having the client dismissed at the motion to dismiss stage. In re Aftermarket Filters Antitrust Litigation.
Represented corporate clients that purchased DRAM chips, in price-fixing litigation to recover overcharges caused by international cartel, In re DRAM Antitrust Litigation.
Represented a client group that purchased electrical carbon products (including carbon brushes and carbon current collectors), in price-fixing litigation to recover overcharges caused by an international price-fixing cartel. In re Electrical and Mechanical Carbon Products Antitrust Litigation.
Represented more than 50 corporate clients as plaintiffs' counsel in complex indirect purchaser suit brought in California state court.
Represented a large telecommunications firm in a suit alleging violations of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Sherman Act § 2 violations, and violations of state antitrust laws; favorable settlement reached on behalf of client.
Represented a large telecommunications firm in binding arbitration regarding merger condition compliance and Operational Support System interfaces; obtaining favorable arbitration award.
Represented clients appearing before federal grand juries.
Represented AT&T, Cingular Wireless, and SBC Communications, Inc. in multiple large acquisitions.
His counseling practice involves the full range of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, trade association law, cartel enforcement, the Robinson-Patman Act, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, and the interaction of the antitrust laws and intellectual property.