Frank A. Dante

Frank A. Dante
Partner
Mass Torts & Complex Disputes

Biography

CO-CHAIR, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND MASS TORTS PRACTICE GROUP

Frank Dante is a seasoned litigator and trial lawyer with more than two decades of experience representing companies in high-stakes mass tort, class action, product liability, and environmental litigation in courts across the United States. He has successfully defended clients in large-scale multidistrict litigation and multistate class action cases involving billions of dollars in alleged damages. Frank has a proven track record defending multinational companies in transnational and cross-border disputes involving civil anti-terrorism claims. Frank regularly advises clients worldwide on compliance and risk management related to civil litigation and government enforcement actions in the United States. 

Frank has been recognized in Chambers, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America, The Legal Intelligencer, and Pennsylvania Law Weekly for his extensive experience in complex commercial litigation, mass torts, and class actions. Chambers notes: “Frank Dante always impresses us with his command of the issues and strategies involved …and of course the victories in cases.”

Frank is the co-chair of the firm’s Environmental and Mass Torts practice group and also leads the firm’s anti-terrorism practice.

His experience includes counseling and defending clients in:

  • Anti-Terrorism Act litigation
  • Class action litigation
  • Mass tort litigation
  • Product liability litigation
  • Multidistrict litigation (“MDL”)
  • Consumer protection and privacy litigation
  • Exposure to chemicals and/or alleged hazardous substances litigation
  • Alien Tort Claims Act litigation
  • Torture Victim Protection Act litigation
  • Environmental litigation involving: CERCLA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”); Clean Water Act (“CWA”); Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”)

Experience

  • Trial counsel for global food company, in Anti-Terrorism Act cases stemming from extortion payments made to groups operating in conflict zones and seeking more than a billion dollars in damages.
  • Trial counsel for global food company in anti-terrorism cases involving more than 7,500 plaintiffs, wrongful death claims under Colombian law, and seeking billions of dollars in damages.
  • Lead counsel for multinational telecommunications company in Anti-Terrorism Act cases brought by hundreds of plaintiffs seeking billions of dollars in damages.
  • Lead counsel for telecommunication companies in Anti-Terrorism Act cases brought by hundreds of plaintiffs seeking billions of dollars in damages.
  • Counsel for multinational engineering firm in Anti-Terrorism Act case brought by hundreds of plaintiffs.
  • Lead trial counsel for a global eyewear company in consumer class actions involving alleged advertising and privacy claims.
  • Lead trial counsel for a major oil company alleging common law claims from a release of petroleum from a pipeline.
  • Lead trial counsel for a major oil company in federal RCRA and CWA litigation alleging a release of petroleum from a pipeline.
  • Trial counsel for a major oil company alleging exposure to benzene-containing products.
  • A multinational chemical company, in connection with Clean Air Act (“CAA”) permit challenges brought by non-governmental organizations (“NGOs”) regarding construction of a petrochemical facility.
  • A multinational oil and gas company, with oil and gas lease disputes.
  • A multinational chemical manufacturer as national coordinating counsel, in more than 150 multidistrict environmental pollution and product liability cases involving water contamination.
  • Lead counsel for a multinational chemical manufacturer in what is believed to be the largest pending natural resource damages case in the United States.
  • A railroad company, in multistate class-action litigation involving thousands of miles of former rail corridor that was ultimately resolved for a nominal amount following significant victories at the summary judgment stage.
  • Defeated class certification on behalf of global chemical manufacturer in the first putative class action involving the gasoline additive MTBE
  • A publicly-held defense contractor, in various complex commercial matters, including securities and corporate fraud.
  • A publicly held software company, in an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice into allegations of violations of the Federal False Claims Act for alleged improper billing to the United States, which ended in a nominal settlement and an extension of the contract to provide service to the United States.
  • A publicly held electronic commerce company, in the successful resolution of an $80 million securities fraud suit for a nominal settlement
  • A publicly held financial institution, in securities litigation and arbitrations.
  • Won summary judgment in $100 million bad faith claim (decision affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals).
  • A publicly held company, in complex enforcement action initiated by the Federal Trade Commission concerning television advertising
  • A title insurance agent, in class action involving alleged overcharging for title insurance.
  • A death row inmate, in Post Conviction Relief Act proceeding, which resulted in the death sentence being vacated.

News & Views

See all News and Views

Recognitions

  • 2026, “Top 500 Leading Litigators in America,” listed in Lawdragon
  • 2025, Litigation: General Commercial Law, listed in Chambers USA
  • 2017–2025, “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” in Business Litigation, listed in Super Lawyers
  • 2007–2016, “Pennsylvania Rising Star,” listed in Super Lawyers
  • 2024, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants in Philadelphia, listed in Best Lawyers in America©
  • 2009, Pennsylvania “Lawyer on the Fast Track,” listed in The Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly

Affiliations

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • American Inns of Court
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

Credentials

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court - New Jersey
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Education

  • Pennsylvania State University, BA, with honors
  • Temple University Beasley 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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