Daniel O. Phelan

After spending the first ten years of his career at major law firms, Daniel started Phelan Law to continue representing clients in complex, sophisticated matters at a much lower cost than the big firms. Daniel has extensive experience managing complex commercial litigation, including shareholder and partnership disputes, derivative actions, dissolution proceedings, breaches of contract, fraud, conversion, breaches of fiduciary duty, and matters involving antitrust and trade regulation. He is skilled in taking and defending depositions, delivering oral arguments, participating in trials, negotiating and drafting complex settlement agreements, and overseeing all stages of discovery and e-discovery. In addition to litigation, Daniel frequently represents clients in a wide variety of sophisticated commercial transactions, including negotiating and drafting operating and partnership agreements, franchise agreements, commercial leases, representing clients in matters related to mergers and acquisitions, and establishing and securing tax-exempt status for new nonprofit organizations.

Daniel is also the Founder, Chairman of the Board, and CEO of the Type 1 Action Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of people with Type 1 Diabetes. Through the Foundation, Daniel has helped thousands of people with Type 1 Diabetes across the United States. He has successfully changed case law in multiple federal circuits, establishing stronger legal protections for those living with the disease.

Recent Representative Work

Represented a major NYC real estate developer in several complex litigation matters, including a case involving the fraudulent conversion of over $1 billion in corporate and real estate assets, defending against a claim of breach of fiduciary duties, and defending a derivative action filed by multiple shareholders alleging misappropriation and self-dealing.
Defended a major institutional client in a breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets case related to a $3.5 billion real estate development in Queens, New York.
Defended an international fitness company in litigation over liability under a guarantee agreement resulting from a subsidiary’s breach of a commercial contract.
Advised a pharmaceutical client on antitrust issues related to anticompetitive practices in the $20 billion insulin market, which the Federal Trade Commission later confirmed.

Recent Speaking Engagements

Keynote Address - “Navigating Diabetes Together Through the Ages”
NYU Langone Health’s Annual Conference
Keynote Address
Breakthrough T1D, Pittsburgh Community Summit
Keynote Address
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Type One Nation Summit

Awards

Dr. Max Reich Award for Excellence in Civil Trial Advocacy
Super Lawyers, New York Metro Rising Stars - 2022-2025