Daniel J. Kessler - Irvine, CA
Attorney at Burkhalter Kessler Clement & George LLP
Business & Commercial Law Lawyers in Irvine, CA
2020 Main Street Suite 600 Irvine, CA 92614
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
32
Years
Experience
Irvine Business & Commercial Law Lawyer
Updated: 05/06/2026
Areas of Practice
- Business & Commercial Law
- Employment Litigation Defense
- Employment Pre-litigation Investigation and Advice
- Trade Secret Law
- Real Estate Law
- Land Use/Zoning
Litigation: 90%
Attorney Information
Overview
Daniel Kessler is the head of the firm’s litigation department and one of the firm’s founding partners. Mr. Kessler has litigated and tried a wide variety of business cases ranging from employment terminations to real estate development disputes to fraud and conspiracy to water rights. Mr. Kessler has secured multiple million-dollar jury verdicts for his clients, including significant punitive damage awards. Mr. Kessler has successfully defended clients before, during and at trial, including prevailing on several motions to dismiss the opposition’s case in its entirety, saving the expense of further trial. Mr. Kessler is a strong advocate for alternative dispute resolution, as well, participating both as an advocate, and a neutral mediator. Mr. Kessler has guest lectured on mediation at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law. Mr. Kessler has also served as an adjunct professor of law at Whittier Law School, teaching trade secrets.
Mr. Kessler was born in New York City, but grew up in Los Angeles. Mr. Kessler received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1991. Mr. Kessler attended Whittier Law School in Los Angeles, California where he graduated magna cum laude and ranked fourth in the law school class. During law school, Mr. Kessler was the recipient of numerous honors, competed nationally on moot court and served as an editor of the school’s law review. Following law school, Mr. Kessler was clerk to the Honorable Kenneth R. Harkins of the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kessler has been a past board member for the Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court. Mr. Kessler is admitted to practice in all courts in California, and has appeared in courts across the nation. Mr. Kessler is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell’s peer review rating system, the highest ranking in legal ability and ethics. Additionally, Mr. Kessler has been recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer for Business Litigation each year since 2011, as well as named a Top 50 Lawyer in Orange County, Top Attorney in America (2025). Mr. Kessler is also a Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an invitation only national association of trial lawyers and judges that have the requisite substantial jury trial experience and are dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Significant Punitive Damage Awards
- The National Registry of Who's Who
- Southern California SuperLawyer for Business Litigation, 2011-2018
- Best Lawyers, Recognized Lawyer
- AV Rated Lawyer, the Top Ranking in Ability and Ethics by Martindale-Hubbell
- ABOTA Membership
- Top Verdict – Top 10 Bench Awards
Other Sources of Feedback About Daniel J. Kessler
Included on the 2026Southern California Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Southern California Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Whittier College School of Law,
Los Angeles,
California, 1994
Honors: magna cum laude
Honors: Ranked Fourth in the Law School Class
Honors: Recipient of Numerous Honors, Competed Nationally on Moot Court
Law Review: Whittier College School of Law Review, Editor
-
Whittier College School of Law,
Los Angeles,
California, 1994
-
Non Legal Education
-
University of California,
Berkeley,
California, 1991
B.A.
Major: Political Science
-
University of California,
Berkeley,
California, 1991
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Managing Partner
Past Positions
- Honorable Kenneth R. Harkins of the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., Clerk
Classes and Seminars
-
Lecturer, Mediation, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Teaching Trade Secrets, Whittier Law School
Representative Cases
-
Foxcroft Productions, Inc., et al. v. Universal Studios, LLC, et al.
- Citation: ($70 million jury verdict- Hollywood accounting)
Bar Admissions
- California, 1994
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court Western District of California
Other Affiliations
- Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court (Past Board Member)
Reviews
Customer Reviews for Daniel J. Kessler
Highlights
-
5.0 Value
-
5.0 Quality of Service
-
5.0 Professional Competence
-
Hired Attorney 2024-2025Daniel Kessler is a dedicated and highly skilled legal advocate. He demonstrated exceptional care and diligence in handling my case, ensuring that my concerns were heard and my rights fully protected. From our very first conversation, it was evident that he was committed to fighting for me with an unwavering pursuit of Justice. I have no doubt he would do the same for anyone in need of outstanding legal representation. Thank you for everything, Dan!
Contact
2020 Main Street
Suite 600
Irvine, CA 92614
Phone: 888-714-1738
Fax: 949-975-7501
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.bkcglaw.com
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