Daniel M. Kavouras

Partner

Cleveland
T +1.216.861.7099
F +1.216.696.0740

Overview

Dan Kavouras is a litigator concentrating on complex commercial disputes and class action defense. He has experience litigating a wide range of legal issues, including commercial contracts, UCC claims, intellectual property and trade secrets, energy and environmental issues and First Amendment law.

In addition to his litigation practice, Dan is an active contributor to the firm's North America Shale blog, offering commentary on a range of issues facing the energy industry as companies intensify their use of hydraulic fracturing and other advanced extraction techniques.

Select Experience

Commercial Disputes
  • Represented a large healthcare system in a preliminary injunction action against a joint venture partner. Secured a preliminary injunction restoring the client's ownership and voting rights in the hospital joint venture.
Class Actions
  • Represented an insurance client in a multidistrict nationwide class action asserting antitrust and unfair competition claims. Court dismissed the claims on a Rule 12 motion.
Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets
  • Assisted a large audio-visual equipment distributor in obtaining a preliminary injunction against a competitor for trademark and trade secret violations.
First Amendment and Media 
  • On behalf of two national title insurers, challenged Cuyahoga County's interpretation of the cost provision in Ohio's Public Records Act in a mandamus action before the Ohio Supreme Court. Participated in drafting merits briefs, which resulted in a unanimous victory for the clients.
Energy and Environmental
  • Drafted an amicus brief supporting the dismissal of a competitor's challenge to the Environment Protection Agency's (EPA's) decision to grant a client steel producer a Clean Air Act permit to operate a new production facility, and simultaneously defended a competitor's appeal of Clean Air Act permits before the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and an Arkansas court of appeals. 
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Experience

Commercial Disputes
  • Represented a large healthcare system in a preliminary injunction action against a joint venture partner. Secured a preliminary injunction restoring the client's ownership and voting rights in the hospital joint venture.
  • Defended a Fortune 1000 company in related state and federal shareholder derivative actions seeking to prevent a proposed going-private transaction. Obtained dismissal of one action and negotiated a settlement, allowing the transaction to proceed.
Class Actions
  • Represented an insurance client in a multidistrict nationwide class action asserting antitrust and unfair competition claims. Court dismissed the claims on a Rule 12 motion.
  • Defended a gasoline distributor in a putative class action alleging overpayment of a state commercial activity tax by supply customers. 
Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets
  • Assisted a large audio-visual equipment distributor in obtaining a preliminary injunction against a competitor for trademark and trade secret violations.
  • Obtained a defense verdict in a trade secret misappropriation case for a commercial welding company.
  • Drafted opposition to a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) action refusing a client's trademark registration under the Lanham Act, resulting in the removal of the USPTO's objections, allowing the client to proceed with registration.
First Amendment and Media 
  • On behalf of two national title insurers, challenged Cuyahoga County's interpretation of the cost provision in Ohio's Public Records Act in a mandamus action before the Ohio Supreme Court. Participated in drafting merits briefs, which resulted in a unanimous victory for the clients.
  • As lead counsel for a regional newspaper, successfully argued a motion seeking access to juvenile court records.
  • As part of a trial team for a local television station, obtained a directed defense verdict on libel claims after a one-week jury trial.
Energy and Environmental
  • Drafted an amicus brief supporting the dismissal of a competitor's challenge to the Environment Protection Agency's (EPA's) decision to grant a client steel producer a Clean Air Act permit to operate a new production facility, and simultaneously defended a competitor's appeal of Clean Air Act permits before the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and an Arkansas court of appeals. 
  • Analyzed emissions reporting requirements under existing Ohio EPA permits for a manufacturing client and drafted disclosure forms. 
  • Prepared lease disclosures and drafted asbestos, mold and lead-based paint policies for employees and tenants of a large property development client with properties in Ohio and Illinois. 

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2021 to 2023)
    • “Ones to Watch” Ohio: Commercial Litigation

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Cleveland Intellectual Property Lawyers Association (CIPLA)

Community

  • Playhouse Square Partners
  • Orchard Park Elementary School: Tutor
  • The Ohio State University Alumni Association
  • University of Michigan Alumni Association

Prior Positions

  • Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Special Prosecutions Unit: Law Clerk (2010)

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2012
  • Ohio

Education

  • J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 2012, cum laude; Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review, Contributing Editor; Michigan Federal Appellate Clinic (2012); Michigan Pediatric Advocacy Initiative (2011)
  • B.S., Economics, The Ohio State University, 2009, magna cum laude
  • B.A., Political Science, The Ohio State University, 2009, magna cum laude