Daniel E. Rhynhart

Daniel E. Rhynhart
Partner & Litigation Department Co-Chair
Business Litigation

Biography

CO-CHAIR, LITIGATION DEPARTMENT

Dan Rhynhart is the co-chair of Blank Rome’s firm-wide Litigation Department, encompassing more than 400 trial lawyers in 16 offices. Recognized as one of the “Top 500 Leading Litigators in America” (Lawdragon), “Tier One - Philadelphia Elite” (Legal 500), “Best of the Bar” for Business Litigation (Philadelphia Business Journal), and an “Influencer of Law” for Litigation (The Philadelphia Inquirer), Dan has over 25 years’ experience litigating high-stakes business disputes across the country. Dan has tried and arbitrated dozens of cases involving billions of dollars, in a wide variety of business disputes spanning software and technology, pharmaceuticals, financial services, retail, and real estate. He has been specially admitted to practice in more than 20 states, and has won significant damages awards and secured defense verdicts in jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations.

Chambers USA continues to rank Dan among the top commercial litigators in the Philadelphia region and quotes client sources that Dan “is thoughtful, sharp, knows how to get information out of the opposition and is very collegial…. brilliant across multiple trials… would highly recommend him and actively refer him to other colleagues.” Clients also comment that he is “a star...he’s able to take things to trials with outstanding results. He’s organized, methodical and patient. He is smooth and ... laser-sharp.” In addition to his top-tier rankings, Dan has co-authored the “Pennsylvania Litigation Trends to Watch” feature for the Chambers USA litigation page for four consecutive years.

Legal 500 reports that Dan “has a strong record in high-profile, high-publicity disputes. Rhynhart has secured major wins in complex business, tech, and pharma disputes across the country, both in court and arbitration.”

Dan is a frequent speaker on technology issues and trial tactics, and is regularly quoted in publications such as Law360, Bloomberg, and Wired.

Dan led Blank Rome’s team at Diversity Lab’s first Women in Law Hackathon at Stanford Law School, aimed at advancing and retaining experienced women lawyers in law firms.

Outside the Firm

Dan currently serves on the boards of directors of the American Red Cross for Eastern Pennsylvania (Chairman Emeritus) and Hopeworks, as well as the corporate councils of the National Constitution Center and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (“CHOP”).

Dan was an Edward F. Hennessey Distinguished Scholar at Boston University School of Law, and president of his class at Colgate University, where he serves as Class Reunion Chair.

Dan handles a number of pro bono cases each year on behalf of indigent clients. He was recognized by Blank Rome with its Pro Bono Hero award, and has been named to the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania’s Pro Bono Roll of Honor every year since 2006.

The Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County awarded Dan the First Judicial District’s Distinguished Pro Bono Award for his representation of a World War II veteran who was defrauded by a con man and rendered homeless.

Dan accepted the Pennsylvania AARP’s and SeniorLAW Center’s inaugural “Access to Justice Champions” award on behalf of Blank Rome for helping the elderly fight fraud.

Experience

  • Defeated $1.5 billion trade secrets and breach of contract action following two-week arbitration. Full defense award.
  • Defeated class action alleging RICO conspiracy claims and seeking over $300 million against Fortune 100 company; class certification denied and case dismissed.
  • Won dismissal of novel compulsive gambling tort claims on behalf of online casino; dismissed by District Court, then affirmed following argument at the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Won $11 million arbitration award in gaming dispute, successfully pierced the corporate veil.
  • Defeated $500 million trade secrets claim following three-week federal jury trial; plaintiff awarded one dollar for breach of contract.
  • Secured significant financial settlement and injunctive relief on behalf of technology company against agricultural corporation following litigation in multiple courts.
  • Secured high-value settlement in arbitration on behalf of investor following fraud on a financial exchange, after piercing the corporate veil in federal court trial.
  • Defeated $82 million contract and fraud claims in a telecommunications trade secrets dispute, following federal jury trial, and won sanctions and attorneys’ fees for destruction of evidence.
  • Successfully represented real estate developer with $200 million construction project, defeated injunction claims.
  • Successful result in hedge fund dispute, won multi-million-dollar arbitration award, plus punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.
  • Defeated $70 million breach of contract claim for a construction-related distribution agreement, and won a counterclaim, following a five week bench trial.
  • Defeated $170 million software trade secrets lawsuit, and obtained permanent injunction securing client’s intellectual property rights, followed by contempt order for violations of injunction.
  • Fraud action against derivatives trading website—secured verdict in California state court, upheld as a nondischargeable debt in federal bankruptcy proceedings in Texas, affirmed by Texas federal court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and review denied by U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Biotechnology dispute involving virus-based gene delivery—misappropriation of trade secrets—achieved settlement for no money on behalf of defendant after expedited discovery.
  • Software implementation and customization dispute between Fortune 500 companies—defeated multi-million dollar claims and obtained minimal verdict following two-week jury trial.
  • Breach of contract and trademark infringement action between manufacturers and distributors of lighting technologies—won eight-million-dollar AAA arbitration award, confirmed by federal court.
  • Breach-of-contract, fraud, and RICO action between mortgage company and top agents—defeated $30 million claim and secured $1.6 million counterclaim in AAA arbitration, confirmed by federal court.
  • Fraud action by equity fund and holding company against sellers of a transportation logistics company—won $30 million JAMS arbitration award, confirmed by federal court.

News & Views

See all News and Views

Recognitions

  • 2022–2026, “Top 500 Leading Litigators in America,” listed in Lawdragon
  • 2014–2018, 2021–2025, Litigation: General Commercial Law, listed in Chambers USA
  • 2015–2025, “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” in Business Litigation, listed in Super Lawyers
  • 2025, listed in The Legal 500 U.S. City Elite
  • 2019, “Best of the Bar: Business Litigation,” by the Philadelphia Business Journal
  • 2018, “Influencer of Law: Litigation and Dispute,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • 2010, “40 Under 40,” listed in Philadelphia Business Journal

Affiliations

Memberships

  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • Colgate University Alumni Association
Professional Activities

Dan was reappointed to serve an additional three-year term as a Hearing Committee Member serving the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, effective July 1, 2025, after first being appointed in 2022.

Dan serves on the boards of various philanthropic organizations, including:

  • American Red Cross for Eastern Pennsylvania—Board of Directors (Chairman Emeritus)
  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)—Corporate Council
  • Hopeworks Camden—Board of Directors
  • National Constitution Center—Corporate Council

Credentials

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court - Colorado
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court - Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Education

  • Colgate University, BA
  • Boston University School of Law, JD

A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.

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