Daniel E. Tranen

Life Sciences, Food & Products Mass Torts
Daniel is a cochair of the firm’s Life Sciences practice. His primary focus is on the defense of life sciences companies for individual claims and in the area of mass torts. He has been serving as national coordinating counsel handling product liability matters for a major international life sciences company and its affiliates for nearly 15 years. Daniel’s past and current work includes representing clients in mass torts involving the national pain pump litigation, the heparin contamination crisis, dozens of cases involving allegedly contaminated flush syringes, the defense (as local counsel) of NECC in the national meningitis outbreak, and most recently knee implants and cold therapy devices. He has previously defended life sciences companies in cases involving spinal implants, catheters, infusers, stents, IVC filters, dental implants, orthopedic screws and allegedly contaminated allografts. Daniel has twice been awarded trophies for outstanding advocacy by a major life sciences insurer at its annual panel counsel meeting. 

In addition, Daniel has supervised several food mass torts, including alleged contamination and food design and labeling defect matters in various jurisdictions throughout the country. He is currently overseeing the defense of mass tort matters involving an E. coli outbreak across eight states, lead poisoning of applesauce pouches, and the recall of a product with an alleged design defect from a health food subscription service.

Insurance Coverage
Daniel also devotes a significant portion of his practice to representing insurance companies in insurance coverage disputes. This work includes representation of insurers in D&O, E&O, CGL, and other third-party and first-party insurance coverage litigation. He handles these matters across the country with a focus on Missouri and Illinois coverage disputes. Daniel has most recently been providing coverage advice to insurers regarding the potential for coverage of the national opioid litigation. He has also been appointed as one of two subcommittee cochairs for the ABA Section on Insurance Coverage Litigation in the areas of food, drugs and products liability. Daniel has found that his work as a defense lawyer for life sciences companies and as an insurance coverage litigator has increased his knowledge and effectiveness in both areas of his practice. 

Professional & Financial Institution Liability
Daniel has represented professionals in liability matters throughout his career with a focus on the defense of lawyers, engineers and other design professionals, accountants, appraisers, mental health therapists, real estate brokers and professionals in the securities industry, including FINRA arbitrations. He has helped therapists and lawyers with licensing issues. Daniel also has worked in the defense of medical professionals, other health care providers, including nursing homes and long-term care facilities. He represents banks and other financial institutions in commercial disputes and errors and omissions claims.

Supervision of Downstate Illinois and Missouri Offices
As the supervising attorney of Wilson Elser’s office in St. Louis, Missouri, Daniel also handles, tries and supervises a wide range of litigation matters, including appellate practice; premises liability; product liability; transportation and trucking; general liability; maritime litigation; cannabis law; construction defect; sex abuse; employment; and environmental law disputes throughout Missouri and Southern Illinois. Under Daniel’s supervision, the St. Louis office also handles the defense of FDCPA and other statutory consumer defense claims, collection matters and a variety of commercial litigation disputes.