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Bart Daniel

Bart Daniel

Partner

Liberty Center
151 Meeting Street
Suite 600
Charleston, SC 29401
Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
bart.daniel@nelsonmullins.com

Bart is a first–chair veteran trial lawyer and is past president for the National Association of Former United States Attorneys. His practice focuses on both complex commercial and white collar litigation, along with government and internal investigations. He has prosecuted and defended at trial, complex civil and criminal cases involving securities fraud, antitrust violations, U.S. Customs fraud,...

Bart is a first–chair veteran trial lawyer and is past president for the National Association of Former United States Attorneys. His practice focuses on both complex commercial and white collar litigation, along with government and internal investigations. He has prosecuted and defended at trial, complex civil and criminal cases involving securities fraud, antitrust violations, U.S. Customs fraud, and healthcare fraud, as well as cases involving bank fraud, government contracting fraud, and tax crimes. He also prosecuted “Operation Jackpot’ which was later featured in the best selling publication Jackpot: High Times, High Seas, And The Sting that Launched the War on Drugs by Jason Ryan (2012).

The co–chair of the firm’s white collar criminal defense and government investigations team, he has served as special counsel to the governor of South Carolina, conducting an internal investigation into allegations of public corruption and influence peddling in state government. He also served as lead counsel for the S.C. House of Representatives before a three–judge federal panel in a trial involving reapportionment and the drawing of district lines. He also was appointed special counsel by the S.C. Securities Division to handle a complex security fraud matter with national implications.

Nominated by President George H.W. Bush, Bart was confirmed and served as U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina from 1989 to 1992. During his tenure, he served as the Lead prosecutor during Operation Lost Trust, a federal investigation that resulted in the conviction of 17 members of the S.C. General Assembly, seven lobbyists, and three others for bribery, extortion, or drug use.

Bart Daniel

and healthcare fraud, as well as cases involving bank fraud, government contracting fraud, and tax crimes. He also prosecuted “Operation Jackpot’ which was later featured in the best selling publication Jackpot: High Times, High Seas, And The Sting that Launched the War on Drugs by Jason Ryan (2012).

The co–chair of the firm’s white collar criminal defense and government investigations team, he has served as special counsel to the governor of South Carolina, conducting an internal investigation into allegations of public corruption and influence peddling in state government. He also served as lead counsel for the S.C. House of Representatives before a three–judge federal panel in a trial involving reapportionment and the drawing of district lines. He also was appointed special counsel by the S.C. Securities Division to handle a complex security fraud matter with national implications.

Nominated by President George H.W. Bush, Bart was confirmed and served as U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina from 1989 to 1992. During his tenure, he served as the Lead prosecutor during Operation Lost Trust, a federal investigation that resulted in the conviction of 17 members of the S.C. General Assembly, seven lobbyists, and three others for bribery, extortion, or drug use.

Bart is a first–chair veteran trial lawyer and is past president for the National Association of Former United States Attorneys. His practice focuses on both complex commercial and white collar litigation, along with government and internal investigations. He has prosecuted and defended at trial, complex civil and criminal cases involving securities fraud, antitrust violations, U.S. Customs fraud,... and healthcare fraud, as well as cases involving bank fraud, government contracting fraud, and tax crimes. He also prosecuted “Operation Jackpot’ which was later featured in the best selling publication Jackpot: High Times, High Seas, And The Sting that Launched the War on Drugs by Jason Ryan (2012).

The co–chair of the firm’s white collar criminal defense and government investigations team, he has served as special counsel to the governor of South Carolina, conducting an internal investigation into allegations of public corruption and influence peddling in state government. He also served as lead counsel for the S.C. House of Representatives before a three–judge federal panel in a trial involving reapportionment and the drawing of district lines. He also was appointed special counsel by the S.C. Securities Division to handle a complex security fraud matter with national implications.

Nominated by President George H.W. Bush, Bart was confirmed and served as U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina from 1989 to 1992. During his tenure, he served as the Lead prosecutor during Operation Lost Trust, a federal investigation that resulted in the conviction of 17 members of the S.C. General Assembly, seven lobbyists, and three others for bribery, extortion, or drug use.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

  • Lead attorney in a securities fraud trial defending a medical device company’s CEO who faced a maximum sentence of 80 years imprisonment if convicted. Secured unanimous jury verdict of not guilty on all three counts of securities fraud and false filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Defended the first federal criminal healthcare case to go to trial in South Carolina
  • Prosecuted and defended False Claim Act or "whistleblower" actions in U.S. District Court
  • Successfully represented a nationwide telecommunications provider in a public corruption probe
  • Prosecuted the first federal criminal environmental case to go to trial in South Carolina
  • Prosecuted successfully at trial several criminal antitrust cases and defended to a not-guilty verdict an executive charged with allocating customers and price fixing in the polyester staple fiber industry
  • E. Bart Daniel law firm (1992–2017)
  • U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina (1989–1992)
  • Private practice (1985–1989)
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting the False Claims Act, fraud, securities, customs violations and more (1982–1985)
  • Assistant State Attorney General, Economic Crime Unit (1980–1982)

Education

  • University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1980)
  • The Citadel, BA (1977)

Admissions

  • South Carolina

Practice Areas

Industries

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Antitrust Law (2023–2025), Commercial Litigation (2008–2025), Criminal Defense: White–Collar (2008–2025), Government Relations Practice (2008–2025)
    • Lawyer of the Year in Charleston, S.C. for Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2015, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025)
  • Columbia Business Monthly "Legal Elite"
    • Antitrust (2023-2024)
  • Legal 500 United States, Dispute Resolution: Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense (2023)
  • Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor
  • Citadel Alumnus of the Year (1991)
  • James Petigru Compleat Lawyer Award for Professional Excellence, University of South Carolina
  • Presented the United States Attorney's Flag Award by U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburg (highest award given to any United States Attorney)
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial – South Carolina (2022-2024), Healthcare – South Carolina (2022–2024)
  • U.S. News – Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms (E. Bart Daniel law firm) – Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Government Relations (2010–2017)
  • Charleston Business Magazine "Legal Elite of the Lowcountry", Antitrust (2022), Business Litigation (2018–2020), Corporate Investigations (2018–2020, 2023), White Collar Criminal Defense (2023)
  • South Carolina Super Lawyers (Criminal Defense: White Collar [Primary Practice Area] 50%); Antitrust Litigation (30%); Business Litigation (20%) (2009–2020); Criminal Defense: White Collar (2021, 2022)
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Rated (1986)
  • S.C. Supreme Court Pro Bono Honor Roll (2021)
  • Permanent member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
  • James L. Petigru American Inn of Court
  • Board member, S.C. Federal Bar Association
  • Executive Board, The Citadel Alumni Association (1993–1996)
  • Former member, The Citadel Board of Visitors
  • Past chair, Salvation Army Advisory Board and Capital Campaign
  • Past President, National Association of Former United States Attorneys
  • United States Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, member and past chairman
  • Former president, Charleston County Bar (1994–1995)
  • Former chair, Charleston County Bar’s Judicial Center
  • Former chair, Charleston Historic Courthouse Committee
  • Former chair, Finance Committee on the Commission on Higher Education