Daniel Watts

Daniel Watts is an experienced litigator and Certified Appellate Specialist — an honor held by fewer than one percent of California attorneys. He has represented clients in complex civil disputes at both the trial and appellate levels, serving as lead trial counsel and in appeals before the California Court of Appeal, the California Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Over his career, Mr. Watts has represented clients in matters involving constitutional law, real property disputes, business torts, employment matters, and anti-SLAPP litigation. He has argued cutting-edge First Amendment issues, defended journalists and student newspapers, and advised startups on corporate governance, incorporation, and capital structure. Before joining the firm, Mr. Watts was a partner at a boutique real estate-focused firm in Carlsbad, leading the teams working on civil litigation, unlawful detainers, and appeals.

He earned his J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law, where he served as Articles and Projects Editor on the UC Davis Law Review, sat on the editorial board of the Journal of International Law & Policy, and chaired the Moot Court Board’s Problems Writing Committee. He competed in national moot court and mock trial competitions, placing among the top oral advocates in the country. While at UC Davis, he simultaneously served as president of both the ACLU and Federalist Society chapters, organizing debates on constitutional law and free speech. While volunteering at the non-profit that runs Wikipedia, he drafted the copyright and defamation response protocols used for years by the foundation.

Before law school, Mr. Watts graduated with honors from UC San Diego with degrees in Political Science and History.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Watts is an adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego and volunteers on the boards of non-profit community theaters.

Honors & Affiliations

• Certified Specialist in Appellate Law, State Bar of California
• Super Lawyers – Appellate (San Diego)
• Top 100 Leaders in Law, San Diego Business Journal
• AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
• Past Board Member, North County Bar Association
• Member, Lopardo and Schwartz-Levi Inns of Court