Daniel J. McGarry - a Madison, WI Creditors' Rights, Business Bankruptcy & Commercial Litigation Lawyer

Madison Creditors' Rights, Business Bankruptcy & Commercial Litigation Lawyer

Updated: 04/02/2026

Areas of Practice

Creditors' Rights, Business Bankruptcy & Commercial Litigation
Business Law

Litigation: 50%

Attorney Information

Overview

Attorney Dan McGarry brings nearly 30 years of legal experience to his clients in commercial litigation, corporate finance, insolvency, bankruptcy, financial restructuring, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions. Dan represents creditors in complex Chapter 11 reorganizations, Chapter 7 liquidations, state court receiverships and assignments for the benefit of creditors, and out-of-court workouts. He has extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in business transactions and complex commercial litigation, as well as secured and unsecured creditors in banking litigation, bankruptcy, foreclosures, liquidations, and Article 9 secured transactions. Dan advises regional and national banks, lenders and financing companies (traditional and alternative) in all aspects of creditors' remedies, litigation and appeals in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts.

Dan also structures settlements and asset sales, and he advises clients on highly involved restructuring and financing arrangements, including debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing. He negotiates complex intellectual property transfer agreements, licensing and royalty contracts protecting patents, trademarks, copyrights, and licensing through the sale and transfer of intellectual property -- in the context of business reorganizations and sales.

In addition, Dan’s experience includes brokering offshore equipment sales and contract disputes. He conducted in-depth discovery that led to millions in recovery of non-exempt assets, property and collateral for business clients, lenders, and bankruptcy trustees. Dan also managed forensic financial investigations related to white-collar crime, embezzlement, bank fraud, real estate fraud, and hidden assets in conjunction with government agencies, lenders, and creditors.

In construction matters, Dan has successfully litigated construction disputes, including scope of work, change order and extra work disputes, claims for defective design and construction, as well as claims for delay, acceleration impact, and lost productivity.

Dan assists business clients in general business matters such as contracts and business planning, but also in mitigating legal risks, employment matters, facilities management, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, negotiations, vendor relations, conflict resolution, and transfer-of-ownership. Dan has significant litigation and project management experience across numerous industries on a wide range of corporate issues.

Dan is available to assist clients in the firm’s Madison, Dodgeville, and Janesville, Wisconsin offices.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Daniel J. McGarry included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Minnesota Law & Politics, “Rising Star”, 2004 - 2005

Other Sources of Feedback About Daniel J. McGarry

Included on the 2006 Minnesota Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2005 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
2004 Minnesota Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1997
  J.D.
  Honors: cum laude
  Honors: Dean's List
Non Legal Education
- St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1989
  B.A.
  Honors: Dean's List
  Honors: Study Abroad Galway, Ireland
  Major: Political Science

Current Employment Position(s)

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Attorney
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Classes and Seminars

Panel Presenter, “Forensic Accounting in Bankruptcy Webinar with Trace Forensic Experts”, LLC (2023)
Co-Presenter, “Receiverships”, Husch Blackwell Lunchtime Workouts lecture series (May 2020)
Organizer, “Navigating Insolvency and Bankruptcy Issues in the EU: A German, French, UK and American Perspective”, ALFA International-International Client Seminar, Scottsdale, AZ (March 2015)
Panel Presenter, “Advantages and Disadvantages of a Chapter 128 Receivership”, Annual Bankruptcy Update, Wisconsin State Bar Association (2013)
Instructor, “Forensics Workshop, Certified Turnaround Professional”, (June 2010)
Panel Presenter, “Protecting Intellectual Property Rights in Bankruptcy”, ALFA International-International Client Seminar, Key Biscayne, FL (March 2008)
Moderator, “Troubled Waters: Bankruptcy Issues Every Creditor Needs to Know”, ALFA Tele-Seminar (August 2008)
Presenter, “Bankruptcy Law and Procedure from Start to Finish”, National Business Institute, (July 2007)
Presenter, “Bankruptcy and Intellectual Property -- Issues You Need to Know”, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Convention (May 2007)
Panel Presenter, “Bankruptcy and Creditor Remedies”, Wisconsin Credit Union League Conference (2006)
Presenter, “The Mechanics of a Preference Action”, ALFA Tele-Seminar (April 2005)
Presenter, “The Mechanics of a Preference Claim”, Bankruptcy Institute CLE (August 2003)
Presenter, “Bankruptcy and Construction”, Construction Claims in Minnesota CLE (July 2001)

Pro Bono Activities

United Way of Dane County Employee Campaign Manager - 2006 Campaign
Leadership Greater Madison - 2006/2007 Program, 2006 - 2007
Friends of Hoyt Park

Published Works

Articles

Author, Kelley v. BMO: Did the Eighth Circuit Get It Wrong? ABI Journal (December 2025)
Contributor, Ginsberg & Martin on Bankruptcy, Wolters Kluwer (2021-23 Supplement)
Co-Author, Avoiding Contract Divisibility to Get You Paid as an Unsecured, ABI Journal (May 2018)
Author, As the Economy Continues to Weaken, Is Your Credit Union Ready for More Bankruptcy Filings? Credit Union Journal (September 8, 2008)
Author, We Must Encourage Our Employees to Save, Capital Region Business Journal (December 2006)
Contributing Editor, Bankruptcy Briefs, Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law (Vol. 1, No. 1-8) (2006)
Co-Editor, Judgments and Execution, Chapter 6 Update, Minnesota Debtor/Creditor Handbook (2004)
Co-Editor, Review in Bankruptcy Cases, Chapter 16, Eighth Circuit Appellate Practice Manual, Minnesota CLE

Bar Admissions

Minnesota, 1997
Wisconsin, 2005
U.S. District Court District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois

Other Affiliations

Minnesota State and Wisconsin State Bar Associations, Member
Dane County Bar Association, Member
American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), Member
Turnaround Management Association (TMA), Member
James E. Doyle American Inn of Court, Member (Past)
Organizer, TMA Madison, WI Inaugural Event (2009)
First Chair of Bankruptcy Practice Group, ALFA International, Founder (2004)

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Contact

Madison, WI

33 East Main St.
Suite 500
Madison, WI 53703

Directions

Phone: 608-509-9682

Fax: 608-257-2508

Email: Send a message

Website: http://www.murphydesmond.com

Credit Cards Accepted

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Daniel J. McGarry - Madison, WI