Dan Tan

Dan Tan is the principal of Dan Tan Law, a boutique law firm based in New York, San Francisco, and Singapore, that has been repeatedly ranked amongst the top 100 of all arbitration practices in the world (Global Arbitration Review 100, 2012 to 2024). Benchmark Litigation recommends the firm for litigation in California, for International Arbitration nationally in the United States, and named it the Euromoney Inaugural “International Arbitration Firm of the Year (US West)”. Dan is an associate member of 36 Group (formerly Stone Chambers), a commercial barristers chambers in London.

Dan has over two decades of international arbitration and litigation experience at some of the largest international law firms. He previously practiced with Latham & Watkins and O’Melveny & Myers in New York representing clients in high-value international disputes.

Dan’s practice focuses on international litigation and arbitration. He has acted in litigation matters in courts all over the world, and in arbitrations under various institutional rules (including ICC, LCIA, AAA, Swiss Rules, BANI, SIAC) seated in major arbitration venues (New York, California, London, Paris, Geneva, Zurich, Indonesia, Brazil, and Singapore). These cases involve disputes stemming from joint venture and partnership agreements, distributor and supply agreements, IP agreements, license agreements, share purchase and option agreements, construction and oil & gas contracts. He has sat as arbitrator (chair, sole, party-appointed, and emergency arbitrator) more than 40 international arbitrations. Chambers commends his “experience sitting as arbitrator in complex disputes”.

Chambers USA and Chambers Global (2012 to 2024) and Legal 500 USA (2021 to 2024) rank Dan as a leading arbitration lawyer. Chambers calls him “a phenomenal lawyer” and “a star in the international arbitration world.” “[A]n extraordinary legal talent and is extremely creative in the legal theories he uses” with the ability to “combine a strategic approach with persuasive advocacy.” He is “particularly praised for his astuteness”, and a “very talented and knowledgeable individual who has an exclusive focus on arbitration” who is “always two steps ahead of the other side.” “Daniel demonstrates a deep understanding of not just the law but also international commercial practices” and “has excellent skills to present complex facts in an easy way to the tribunal, and is eloquent and persuasive.” “Clients and peers overwhelmingly attest to his expertise as ‘a very skilled advocate’ who ‘comes up with practical, commercial advice that clients find extremely useful” and which “always hits the target.” The publication also notes his “tremendous expertise in pursuing arbitrations in Asia” and “expert handling of Asia-related international arbitrations.” He has been ranked an “International Arbitration Star” and a “Litigation Star” by Euromoney Benchmark Litigation (2010 to 2024 Edns). He was lauded as being “alert, informed and bold in arbitration proceedings” and for his “acumen and knowledge of local law” and “simply amazing ability to remember arcane, technical details from evidentiary findings, and quote them in detail.” The Global Arbitration Review calls him “a name to know” and commends his “impressive attention to detail and strategy” and “innovative ways of presenting complex ideas to a multilingual and multi-jurisdictional tribunal.” GAR notes his “easy to work with approach” and remarks that “Clients love him.” Legal 500 Asia calls him an “outstanding lawyer.” Euromoney Institutional Investor ranks Dan as an Expert in Commercial Arbitration. Dan is ranked in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration (2018-2024).

Dan is a Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School (teaching international arbitration) and Lecturer in Law at Stanford Law School (teaching international arbitration and international investment law). He was previously adjunct faculty at the Singapore Management University School of Law, and Lecturer in Law at Oxford University (teaching contract law). He writes prolifically in his field and has published articles in leading academic journals that have been excerpted in casebooks, cited in prominent textbooks, commentaries and by US Federal courts, and have been called “ground-breaking thinking.”