Biography

Dan Santaniello is a seasoned trial attorney with over 35 years of experience and more than 100 jury verdicts to his name. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar, a distinction reserved for experts in the field, and holds the prestigious AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest level of professional excellence as recognized by his peers.

Dan is a proud member of the invitation-only American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and, in 2025, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FDLA), where he previously served as President. This honor, presented to only one attorney each year, recognizes extraordinary dedication to the defense bar and meaningful contributions to the legal community. The Defense Research Institute (DRI) has also recognized Dan with an Exceptional Performance Citation for advancing defense standards and improving the administration of justice.

A firm believer in the jury system, Dan is passionate about the principle that civil cases should be decided by the people. Known for his skill in jury selection, he excels at identifying jurors who can put aside emotion and focus solely on the evidence and the law. He has developed a highly effective “reverse reptile” strategy, which has been successfully used to defend some of America’s largest corporations in challenging, high-stakes cases.

Dan’s practice spans wrongful death and catastrophic loss, including negligent security, commercial trucking and transportation, retail and premises liability and product liability. He is frequently retained by excess insurers to oversee complex matters and is often brought in to try difficult cases in challenging venues, including Los Angeles and Las Vegas. His involvement often shifts the dynamics of a case and creates new opportunities for resolution.

Beyond trial work, Dan counsels clients on time-limit demands, bad faith claims, and risk management. He is certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Circuit Mediator and is a Qualified Florida Arbitrator. Dan is also a co-founder of ADAAM.org, a Diversity Supplier Initiative connecting clients with highly qualified and diverse arbitrators and mediators nationwide, and TheGavel.net, a national claims defense network.

Born and raised in Boston, Dan earned his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University (1987) before moving to Florida to attend Nova Southeastern University Law School on a full academic scholarship. He graduated summa cum laude and ranked third in his class (1990). In 1995, just five years into his career, Dan founded his law firm, which has since grown to more than 200 attorneys across over a dozen offices. Despite his success, he proudly carries with him a bit of his Boston fight—and accent.

Practice Areas

Practice Areas

• Appeals | Litigation Support
• Arbitration & Mediation
• Auto & Fleet Liability
• Bad Faith | ECO
• Boating | Maritime
• Construction Defect
• Commercial Litigation
• Creditor's Rights
• Directors & Officers
• Health, Life & Disability Law
• Excess | Wrongful Death
• Environmental | Toxic Tort
• EPL | Employment Law
• Federal Practice
• General and Retail Liability
• Home Owners Association and Condo Association
• Insurance Coverage
• Liquor Liability
• Negligent Security
• Premises Liability
• Professional Liability | E&O
• Product Liability
• Reptile and Deposition Strategies
• Roadway Construction
• Sexual Misconduct Liability
• SIU | Fraud Special Investigations
• Surgical LOP Abuse
• Time & Policy Limit Demands and Tenders
• Trucking Liability

Experience

Martindale Rating

• AV® Preeminent^TM

Awards & Honors

• 2025 FDLA Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Defense Research Institute (DRI) Exceptional Performance Citation 2013-2014.
• Named South Florida Legal Leaders (ALM) 2013.
• Florida Super Lawyers 2012 and 2011.
• Named 2012 “Go-To” Law Firm to F500 Companies by ALM.
• 2010 FDLA President's Award for outstanding service.
• Selected Most Effective Lawyer (2007 finalist) by the Florida Daily Business Review.
• Best Lawyers - Insurance Litigation, 2026

Accreditations

• Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by The Florida Bar.
• Certified by the Florida Department of Transportation in the area of Traffic Control / Maintenance of Traffic. 
• Certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Circuit Mediator
• Qualified Florida Arbitrator
• Approved Instructor - Florida Adjuster Continuing Education and Attorney Continuing Legal Education seminars

Bar/Court Admission

• 1990, Florida Bar; 1991, Massachusetts Bar
• 1990, U.S. District Court, Southern; 1990, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida including Trial Bar
• 1991, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts

Education

• Northeastern University, B.S., 1987
• Nova Southeastern University, J.D., summa cum laude, class rank 3rd, 1990.

Professional/Civil Memberships

• The Florida Bar
• Massachusetts and American Bar Associations
• Board of Directors Florida Defense Lawyers Association
• Member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association
• Member of the Claims Litigation Management
• The Defense Research Institute
• Miami-Dade County Bar Association
• Broward County Bar Association
• Managing Attorney Member of The Gavel Claims Defense Network
• American Board of Trial Advocates

Industries Represented

Verdicts

Verdicts

Presentations

Presentations and Speaking Engagements

Publications

Articles