Dana J. Dunwoody

Dana Dunwoody is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group. He is the former Administrative Partner in the firm's San Diego (Del Mar) office and leader of the Hospitality Industry Team.  

Areas of Practice

Beginning in 1985, Dana’s practice has encompassed a broad range of complex litigation, arbitration and trial matters. He is experienced in resolving business and real estate disputes for clients across diverse industries and has defended class actions, handled contract and real property litigation and advised on partnership and corporate conflicts.

Within the hospitality industry, Dana has resolved disputes concerning hotels, resorts and golf courses and has represented international management companies, hotel owners and funding sources.

Honors

Top Lawyer, San Diego Magazine, 2019

Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers, 2017

San Diego Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2015-2022

Recognized by SD Metro as one of San Diego's Best Attorneys, 2014

Best Lawyers in America (in multiple categories, including real estate litigation and banking and finance litigation), Best Lawyers, 2011-2023

Southern California Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2007-2015

San Diego County Top Attorneys, San Diego Daily Transcript

Articles

• Overcoming Confusion For Franchisors, New York Law Journal, August 11, 2014
• Top Attorneys 2010, San Diego Daily Transcript, July 21, 2010
• One of three authors on the annual Lexis/Nexis publication called California Federal Civil Rules: With Local Practice Commentary
• One of three consultants on the Lexis/Nexis publication called Matthew Bender® Practice Guide: California Contract Litigation originally published in 2005, and still in current publication
• One of eight members of the LexisNexis California Advisory Board for Legal Publications.
• Served as a Consulting Editor for CEB's "Action Guide" series
• Co-authored a chapter on Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Arbitration of hospitality disputes in "Hotel Investments: Issues & Perspectives" - Fourth Edition
• Edited portions of CEB's "Effective Use of ADR in California"
• Written numerous other articles on legal topics and topics affecting the hotel industry

Speaking Engagements

• Frequent lecturer and panelist in continuing education programs sponsored by the California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA), American Conference Institute (ACI), Corporate Counsel Exchange and other organizations, where he has taught classes on class actions, trial and deposition techniques and strategies.

Memberships

Advisory Board, Hotel & Lodging Legal Summit

Former Chair, Executive Committee of the then 12,000 member Litigation Section of the California State Bar

Editor-In-Chief, Litigation Section's newsletter, 1990-1994

Board Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL) of San Diego

Senior Trial Master, American Inns of Court

Super Lawyers, Top Attorneys and Best Lawyers in America - peer review honors granted to only the very top of each legal specialty