Daniel W. Van Horn
Office Information
- Vice-Chair, Litigation Department
Danny is an experienced, aggressive and solutions oriented trial attorney in complex commercial matters, including matters in highly regulated industries. He has fought for clients obtaining successful verdicts in disputes concerning closely held businesses, unfair competition, construction, intellectual property and real estate related cases.
Biography – View PDF Bio
- Associations
- Bar Admissions
- Distinctions
- Education & Honors
- Experience
- In the News
- Papers, Presentations, & Publications
- Recent Blogs
Bar Admissions
- Arkansas, 2007
- Mississippi, 2006
- Tennessee, 1997
- U.S. District Courts
- Tennessee: Eastern, Middle, Western
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
- Arkansas: Eastern, Western
- Colorado: District of Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
- 6th Circuit
- 8th Circuit
Distinctions
- Best Lawyers in America®,
- Commercial Litigation, 2011-2021
- Banking and Finance Litigation, 2011-2021
- Martindale-Hubbell®
- AV® – Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 2009-2017
- Super Lawyers®
- Mid-South Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2007-2008, 2011-2020
- Top 50 – Memphis Super Lawyers, 2013-2014
- Top 100 – Tennessee Super Lawyers, 2013-2014
- Best of the Bar, Memphis Business Journal, 2020
- Pro Bono Service Award, Memphis Area Legal Services, 2006
- Star of the Year Award, American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, 2005, 2007
- Top 40 Under 40, Memphis Business Journal, 2003
- President’s Award, Tennessee Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, 2002
- Board of Advisors, Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce More...
- Fellow, Memphis Bar Foundation
- Fellow, Tennessee Bar Foundation
- Fellow, Tennessee State Chair, American Bar Foundation
- Eagle Scout, 1987
Education & Honors
- Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 1997
- Moot Court Board
- University of Tennessee, B.S., Business Administration, summa cum laude, 1994
Experience
- Won a complete dismissal of all claims against client in a tortious interference case concerning termination of a dealership. ICM of America, Inc. v. Leica Geosystems, Inc. et al., 4:16-cv- 00160 (E.D. Ark. 2017).
- Successfully resolved a dispute concerning ownership of a closely held business. Jones v. Murphy, CH-13- 1542 (Shelby County, TN Chancery Court, 2016).
- Won defense verdict in a trade secrets/breach of confidentiality agreement case in federal court in Houston, TX. Tendeka, Inc. v. Elite Elastomers, Inc., Civil Action No. 4:13-cv-01764 (S.D. TX, 2016).
- Won commercial arbitration related to breach of commission agreement for sale of apartment complex. Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, Inc. v. Burkhalter-Vestal, LLC, AAA Arbitration, Little Rock, AR, June 2015.
- Tried bad faith insurance coverage claim to verdict. Lindenberg v. Jackson National Life Insurance Co., Civil Action No. 2:13-cv-02657 JPM (W.D. Tenn., December, 2014).
- Obtained an arbitration award in favor of our client on alleged breach of warranty claim related to an IPTV system worth hundreds of thousands of dollars including significant claimed consequential damages. Power & Telephone Supply Company v. Dumont Telephone Company, AAA Arbitration, April 2014.
- Won defense verdict in Chattanooga, TN construction arbitration. Nixon v. B & W and Rogers Manufacturing Corp., AAA Arbitration.
- Won commercial plaintiff’s jury verdict in unfair business practices case in Arkansas. Curtis Lumber Company, Inc. v. Louisiana Pacific Corporation, Civil Action No. 2:08-cv-1007 (E.D. Ark.).
- Won favorable award in a breach of contract arbitration in San Antonio, TX concerning a hospital lease. HR Acquisition of San Antonio v. Behavioral Health Systems, in private arbitration. More...
- Won defense verdict in a supplier breach of contract case in Memphis, TN. Mechanics Laundry v. McKesson, Civil Action No. 08-2256.
- Won summary judgment for a lessee in a commercial finance lease case concerning energy monitoring equipment. Gaia Leasing v. Wendelta, Civil Action No. 09-1067 (D. Minn.).
- Experienced in commercial disputes including those involving breach of contract and usurpation of corporate opportunities including representation of a national professional management company with arbitration disputes in Ohio, Washington, D.C., Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico.
- Experienced litigating franchise and distribution disputes including representation of a distributor of cottonseed in an international arbitration concerning distribution of cottonseed in Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey and Spain.
- Experienced with insurance coverage disputes including representation of insurance companies in officers and directors liability disputes.
- Experienced in disputes concerning ownership or control of closely held businesses.
- Experienced in cases involving unfair competition including trade secrets, trademarks, breaches of the duty of loyalty, tortuous interference and unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
In the News
- 86 Butler Snow Attorneys Listed in 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars
- 198 Butler Snow Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021
- Butler Snow Attorney Daniel W. Van Horn to Serve as Chair of American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation
- Three Butler Snow Attorneys Named Best of the Bar by Memphis Business Journal
- 93 Butler Snow Attorneys Listed in 2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 173 Butler Snow Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers® 2020, 19 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- 106 Butler Snow Attorneys Listed in 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 147 Butler Snow Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers®, 18 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- 102 Butler Snow Attorneys List in 2015 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars More...
- 117 Butler Snow Attorneys Listed in 2013 Mid-South Super Lawyers®
- State bar honors Memphis lawyers
Papers, Presentations, & Publications
- Author, “Tenn. Ruling Has Broad Relevance To Damages Caps In State,” Law360, March 9, 2020.
- Presenter, “Ethical Issues for In House Counsel,” seminar, November 2016.
- Presenter, “Ethical Issues for In House Counsel,” seminar, November 2015.
- Presenter, “Corporate Divorce, Disputes Between Business Owners,” seminar, March 2015.
- Presenter, “Covenants Not to Compete,” seminar, December 2014.
- Presenter, “Lessons From Watergate: Ethical Obligations for Lawyers,” presentation, September 2014.
- Co-Presenter, "Covenants Not to Compete: Overview and Drafting Tips for Tennessee Attorneys," webinar, August 2013.
- Author, "Picking Judges: Existing System Has Served Tennesseans Well," Chattanoogan, Sunday, February 19, 2012.
- Author, "Business Gets a Big Boost in the 2011 Legislative Session," Memphis Business Journal, 2011. More...
- Co-Author, "Recession Triggers Increased Risk of Employee Trade Secret Theft," Pointe Innovation, 2011.
- Author, "It Adds Up: Class Action Residual Funds Support Pro Bono Efforts," Tennessee Bar Journal, March 2009.
- Co-Author, "Tennessee Law Protects both Consumers, Businesses from Unfair Practices," Memphis Business Journal, June 13, 2008.
- Author, "Theoretical Reverse Engineering," ABA Section of Litigation Business Torts Journal, Spring 2008.
- Author, "Preserving Electronic Evidence: How Closely Should a Tennessee Court Follow Zubulake?" Tennessee Bar Journal, April 2005.
- Author, "The Constitutional Limits of Punitive Damages: The U.S. Supreme Court's Punitive Damages Jurisprudence and its Impact on Hodges v S.C. Toof & Company," Tennessee Bar Journal, December 2003.
- Author, "The E-Sign Act: A Move in the Right Direction and a Boost for E-Commerce," Tennessee Bar Journal, February 2001.
- Presenter, "Effective Writing for Attorneys," Tennessee Bar Association, 2009-2010.
- Presenter, "Business Torts 101: Tortious Interference," Tennessee Bar Association, 2008-2010.
- Presenter, "Business Torts 101: Trade Secrets," Tennessee Bar Association, 2008-2009.
- Presenter, "Business Torts 101: Covenants Not-to-Compete," Tennessee Bar Association, 2007-2009.
- Presenter, "Business Torts 101: The Duty of Loyalty," Tennessee Bar Association, 2008.
Recent Blogs
- Reflections on McClay Part I: Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds the Statutory Cap on Non-Economic Damages - Signals that the Punitive Damages Cap Is Also Constitutional
- Practical Guidance on Application of Caps on Non-Economic Damages and Punitive Damages
- Business Judgment Rule Receives Boost in Tennessee