Daniel Schwei

Special Counsel

He / Him

Office

Washington, DC

Phone

+1 202 626 5058


Daniel Schwei helps clients navigate high-stakes, complex legal disputes, drawing on over fourteen years of experience at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch.  

While at DOJ, Daniel was a senior litigator responsible for handling many of the government’s most important and high-profile civil cases. Virtually all of his cases involved complex questions of administrative or constitutional law, arising across a wide variety of subject matters—including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, federal preemption, government appropriations law, and reproductive rights.  Daniel has extensive experience in all aspects of federal civil litigation, and he has personally briefed and argued countless challenges to significant regulatory actions. Among other notable cases, he was part of the team that defended FDA’s approval and regulation of the drug mifepristone in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA (N.D. Tex.), and he personally argued in defense of FDA’s actions at the preliminary-injunction hearing.

Daniel is a trusted advisor in all aspects of the regulatory process, and he has worked on matters involving numerous federal agencies and other Executive Branch components. Using his deep knowledge and extensive experience, Daniel skillfully guides clients through all types of complex regulatory and litigation matters.

Credentials

  • District of Columbia, 2026
  • New York, 2011

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD, magna cum laude, 2009
  • Emory University, BA, summa cum laude, 2006

  • US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

  • Hon. Raymond M. Kethledge, US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2009-2010

Service / Recognition

  • Capitol Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2025
  • Attorney General's Distinguished Service Awards, 2014, 2023
  • DOJ Special Commendation Award, 2020
  • Civil Division Special Commendation Awards, 2012, 2017, 2023, 2025
  • Civil Division Perseverance Award, 2019
  • Civil Division Rookie of the Year, 2011

Daniel Schwei helps clients navigate high-stakes, complex legal disputes, drawing on over fourteen years of experience at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch.  

While at DOJ, Daniel was a senior litigator responsible for handling many of the government’s most important and high-profile civil cases. Virtually all of his cases involved complex questions of administrative or constitutional law, arising across a wide variety of subject matters—including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, federal preemption, government appropriations law, and reproductive rights.  Daniel has extensive experience in all aspects of federal civil litigation, and he has personally briefed and argued countless challenges to significant regulatory actions. Among other notable cases, he was part of the team that defended FDA’s approval and regulation of the drug mifepristone in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA (N.D. Tex.), and he personally argued in defense of FDA’s actions at the preliminary-injunction hearing.

Daniel is a trusted advisor in all aspects of the regulatory process, and he has worked on matters involving numerous federal agencies and other Executive Branch components. Using his deep knowledge and extensive experience, Daniel skillfully guides clients through all types of complex regulatory and litigation matters.

  • District of Columbia, 2026
  • New York, 2011

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD, magna cum laude, 2009
  • Emory University, BA, summa cum laude, 2006

  • US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

  • Hon. Raymond M. Kethledge, US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2009-2010

  • Capitol Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2025
  • Attorney General's Distinguished Service Awards, 2014, 2023
  • DOJ Special Commendation Award, 2020
  • Civil Division Special Commendation Awards, 2012, 2017, 2023, 2025
  • Civil Division Perseverance Award, 2019
  • Civil Division Rookie of the Year, 2011

Overview

Daniel Schwei helps clients navigate high-stakes, complex legal disputes, drawing on over fourteen years of experience at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch.  

While at DOJ, Daniel was a senior litigator responsible for handling many of the government’s most important and high-profile civil cases. Virtually all of his cases involved complex questions of administrative or constitutional law, arising across a wide variety of subject matters—including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, federal preemption, government appropriations law, and reproductive rights.  Daniel has extensive experience in all aspects of federal civil litigation, and he has personally briefed and argued countless challenges to significant regulatory actions. Among other notable cases, he was part of the team that defended FDA’s approval and regulation of the drug mifepristone in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA (N.D. Tex.), and he personally argued in defense of FDA’s actions at the preliminary-injunction hearing.

Daniel is a trusted advisor in all aspects of the regulatory process, and he has worked on matters involving numerous federal agencies and other Executive Branch components. Using his deep knowledge and extensive experience, Daniel skillfully guides clients through all types of complex regulatory and litigation matters.

Credentials

Admissions

  • District of Columbia, 2026
  • New York, 2011

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD, magna cum laude, 2009
  • Emory University, BA, summa cum laude, 2006

Court Admissions

  • US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

Clerkships

  • Hon. Raymond M. Kethledge, US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2009-2010

Service / Recognition

Awards

  • Capitol Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2025
  • Attorney General's Distinguished Service Awards, 2014, 2023
  • DOJ Special Commendation Award, 2020
  • Civil Division Special Commendation Awards, 2012, 2017, 2023, 2025
  • Civil Division Perseverance Award, 2019
  • Civil Division Rookie of the Year, 2011

Daniel Schwei helps clients navigate high-stakes, complex legal disputes, drawing on over fourteen years of experience at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch.  

While at DOJ, Daniel was a senior litigator responsible for handling many of the government’s most important and high-profile civil cases. Virtually all of his cases involved complex questions of administrative or constitutional law, arising across a wide variety of subject matters—including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, federal preemption, government appropriations law, and reproductive rights.  Daniel has extensive experience in all aspects of federal civil litigation, and he has personally briefed and argued countless challenges to significant regulatory actions. Among other notable cases, he was part of the team that defended FDA’s approval and regulation of the drug mifepristone in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA (N.D. Tex.), and he personally argued in defense of FDA’s actions at the preliminary-injunction hearing.

Daniel is a trusted advisor in all aspects of the regulatory process, and he has worked on matters involving numerous federal agencies and other Executive Branch components. Using his deep knowledge and extensive experience, Daniel skillfully guides clients through all types of complex regulatory and litigation matters.

Credentials

  • District of Columbia, 2026
  • New York, 2011

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD, magna cum laude, 2009
  • Emory University, BA, summa cum laude, 2006

  • US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

  • Hon. Raymond M. Kethledge, US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2009-2010

Service / Recognition

  • Capitol Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2025
  • Attorney General's Distinguished Service Awards, 2014, 2023
  • DOJ Special Commendation Award, 2020
  • Civil Division Special Commendation Awards, 2012, 2017, 2023, 2025
  • Civil Division Perseverance Award, 2019
  • Civil Division Rookie of the Year, 2011

Daniel Schwei helps clients navigate high-stakes, complex legal disputes, drawing on over fourteen years of experience at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch.  

While at DOJ, Daniel was a senior litigator responsible for handling many of the government’s most important and high-profile civil cases. Virtually all of his cases involved complex questions of administrative or constitutional law, arising across a wide variety of subject matters—including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, federal preemption, government appropriations law, and reproductive rights.  Daniel has extensive experience in all aspects of federal civil litigation, and he has personally briefed and argued countless challenges to significant regulatory actions. Among other notable cases, he was part of the team that defended FDA’s approval and regulation of the drug mifepristone in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA (N.D. Tex.), and he personally argued in defense of FDA’s actions at the preliminary-injunction hearing.

Daniel is a trusted advisor in all aspects of the regulatory process, and he has worked on matters involving numerous federal agencies and other Executive Branch components. Using his deep knowledge and extensive experience, Daniel skillfully guides clients through all types of complex regulatory and litigation matters.

  • District of Columbia, 2026
  • New York, 2011

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD, magna cum laude, 2009
  • Emory University, BA, summa cum laude, 2006

  • US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

  • Hon. Raymond M. Kethledge, US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2009-2010

  • Capitol Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2025
  • Attorney General's Distinguished Service Awards, 2014, 2023
  • DOJ Special Commendation Award, 2020
  • Civil Division Special Commendation Awards, 2012, 2017, 2023, 2025
  • Civil Division Perseverance Award, 2019
  • Civil Division Rookie of the Year, 2011

Overview

Daniel Schwei helps clients navigate high-stakes, complex legal disputes, drawing on over fourteen years of experience at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch.  

While at DOJ, Daniel was a senior litigator responsible for handling many of the government’s most important and high-profile civil cases. Virtually all of his cases involved complex questions of administrative or constitutional law, arising across a wide variety of subject matters—including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, federal preemption, government appropriations law, and reproductive rights.  Daniel has extensive experience in all aspects of federal civil litigation, and he has personally briefed and argued countless challenges to significant regulatory actions. Among other notable cases, he was part of the team that defended FDA’s approval and regulation of the drug mifepristone in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA (N.D. Tex.), and he personally argued in defense of FDA’s actions at the preliminary-injunction hearing.

Daniel is a trusted advisor in all aspects of the regulatory process, and he has worked on matters involving numerous federal agencies and other Executive Branch components. Using his deep knowledge and extensive experience, Daniel skillfully guides clients through all types of complex regulatory and litigation matters.

Credentials

Admissions

  • District of Columbia, 2026
  • New York, 2011

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD, magna cum laude, 2009
  • Emory University, BA, summa cum laude, 2006

Court Admissions

  • US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

Clerkships

  • Hon. Raymond M. Kethledge, US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2009-2010

Service / Recognition

Awards

  • Capitol Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2025
  • Attorney General's Distinguished Service Awards, 2014, 2023
  • DOJ Special Commendation Award, 2020
  • Civil Division Special Commendation Awards, 2012, 2017, 2023, 2025
  • Civil Division Perseverance Award, 2019
  • Civil Division Rookie of the Year, 2011

News and Insights