Daniel Vaccaro

Clients turn to Dan when facing governmental investigations, enforcement actions or complex civil litigation, relying on him for the judgment, sound counsel, and strong courtroom skills he has developed through years of trial experience as a federal and state prosecutor and defense lawyer.

Dan routinely helps companies and individuals respond effectively to government inquiries, investigations, prosecutions or enforcement matters. He represents targets, defendants, and witnesses at all stages of the criminal process, including grand jury investigations, plea negotiations, trials, and parallel civil enforcement proceedings. Dan has defended clients in SEC, FERC, EPA, anti-trust, CFTC and related State enforcement investigations and actions. He has successfully represented clients in matters involving alleged financial services fraud, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, commodities fraud, pandemic relief fraud, defense contracting, export violations, environmental violations, employer-based immigration violations, trade secrets, money-laundering violations, antitrust violations, False Claims Act, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations.

Dan also helps corporate organizations structure and conduct internal investigations of alleged illegal or unethical activity. He has handled investigations for both public and private entities in a wide range of industries, including financial services, energy, manufacturing, agricultural, education, non-profits, staffing, trucking, and defense contracting. In addition, he provides counsel to business organizations to develop guidelines and improve corporate compliance programs to avoid intervention by federal and state investigators.

On the civil side, Dan has prosecuted and defended a wide variety of complex claims. He concentrates on large-scale commercial disputes, contract matters, post-closing acquisition disputes and other business tort cases.

Dan has conducted more than 135 jury and bench trials before federal and state courts, has represented clients in numerous administrative and regulatory hearings before state and local agencies, and lead many arbitration hearings. He has also successfully litigated and argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First and Seventh Circuits.

Dan is the Chair of the firm’s Litigation practice group, having also led the group from 2012-2017 and 2024-2026.

As a current and former firm leader, Dan also professionally coaches business executives and attorneys on a variety of topics, including career development, leadership, business development, work/life balance, and successful interpersonal communication strategies.

Member, American Bar Association, Criminal Justice and Litigation Sections

Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member, Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association

Member, State Bar of Wisconsin

Member, Milwaukee Bar Association

Defending against white-collar charges and government investigations.

Leading internal investigations of alleged wrongdoing.

Counseling on compliance - Given his previous prosecution experience, Dan is often called upon to develop internal compliance, policies and procedures for clients to comply with various federal and state laws.

Prevailing in complex civil cases.

Winning cases - and recognition - as a federal prosecutor - As an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Dan was responsible for investigating and prosecuting organized crime, capital murder, international narcotics, money laundering, law enforcement corruption, white collar, and other major felony cases.

Taking on big, multi-party litigation as a state prosecutor - As an Assistant State’s Attorney in Howard County, Maryland, Dan prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases. His work preparing, directing and trying multi-party complex litigation included investigating and prosecuting Howard County’s first organized gang case.

American University Washington College of Law

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

1990

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

1986

University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Continuing Studies

Graduate Certified Professional Coach Program