Dan Schwager has been conducting and managing investigations and enforcement litigation as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, among other roles, for over 25 years. Mr. Schwager’s experience includes matters at the highest levels of government – investigating, prosecuting, advising on, and defending against corruption and misconduct allegations regarding federal, state and foreign elected officials, political appointees and employees, law enforcement personnel at the state and federal level, and corporate executives and employees. In addition to prosecuting public corruption at the U.S. Department of Justice (Public Integrity Section) and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, Mr. Schwager served as a senior enforcement counsel at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and has conducted or advised upon internal employment matter investigations and employment litigation.
In the U.S. Congress, Mr. Schwager served as the chief counsel and staff director of the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and as counsel for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. These non-partisan roles included conducting and overseeing investigations and enforcement as well as providing compliance advice and training for Members of Congress, congressional offices, and agencies and organizations that interact with Congress. Later, as General Counsel to the Secretary of the Senate, Mr. Schwager expanded his broad portfolio to include litigation management, election and lobbying disclosure administration and training, contract review and negotiation, procurement drafting and procedures, continuity of government, and intellectual property. In addition, Mr. Schwager has taught or presented in numerous domestic and international settings and on numerous topics including professional responsibility, internal government investigations, public corruption, and lobbying disclosure regulations.
Just before joining Verdi & Ogletree PLLC, Mr. Schwager served as chief counsel of a non-profit organization in Washington managing open records litigation against federal and state agencies around the country.
Practice Areas
- Congressional Ethics and Investigations
- White Collar Defense and Government Enforcement
- Lobbying Disclosure and Enforcement
- Internal Investigations
- Grand Jury Investigations
- Government litigation
- FOIA and state Open Records law
- Securities Litigation
Bar Admissionss
- New York
- District of Columbia
Education
- New York University School of Law, J.D., 1998
- Bates College, B.A. (ethical theory), 1993
