Overview
Danielle O’Neal is a litigation partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation as well as patent, copyright, and trademark litigation. She also has experience in matters related to the life sciences. Danielle has a broad range of experience in all phases of litigation, including pleadings, fact and expert discovery, trial preparation, trial, and pretrial and post-trial motions. Danielle’s extensive background in biology allows her to leverage her technical background to add value to clients whose issues concern the various stages and areas of litigation.
Danielle spent six months working at the litigation department of a Fortune 100 corporation. She managed a variety of litigation matters and developed a strong understanding of the role of legal and business teams from a client’s perspective. Danielle uses her experience working in-house to offer strategies and solutions to her clients.
Danielle also actively participates in Firm committees and recruiting efforts. Danielle currently serves on the Firm’s Associates Committee for the Chicago office, and she serves as a current Co-Chair of the Firm’s Black Affinity Group for the Chicago office.
Experience
Representative Matters
Dyson v. Syncreon: Counsel for Dyson in a preliminary injunction, breach of contract, and fraud litigation against a third-party logistics provider. Case settled favorably.
Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., et al. v. Edwards Lifesciences, et al., (D. Del.): Represented Abbott Laboratories subsidiaries Abbott Cardiovascular Systems and Evalve in patent litigation, including assisting with IPRs and related global litigations, regarding their pioneering heart valve repair technology.
In re Oil Spill by the Oil Rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico: Currently representing BP in a portfolio of more than 870 personal injury lawsuits pending in federal court.
In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation: Currently representing Sanderson Farms in putative antitrust class actions brought by direct and indirect poultry purchasers alleging conspiracy to reduce output and raise prices of broiler chickens.
Represented global consumer credit reporting agency during a one week trial against claims of breach of contract, defamation, and trademark infringement.
Represented global medical device company in DOJ-intervened False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute litigation related to the sale of diabetes testing supplies.
Represented drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment centers and online rehabilitation directories against claims of trademark infringement and false advertising.
Prior Experience
PILI Fellow, Summer 2018
Summer Associate, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 2017
Summer Associate, Nixon Peabody LLP, 2016
Tenured Professor of Biological Sciences, Kennedy-King College, City Colleges of Chicago, 2011–2018
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Recognition
Kirkland & Ellis Scholar
Kirkland & Ellis Fellow
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2024Texas
- 2018Illinois
Education
- DePaul University College of LawJ.D.magna cum laude2018
Order of the Coif
Managing Editor of Notes and Comments, DePaul Law Review
- DePaul UniversityMasters in Biology2011
- Spelman CollegeB.S., Biology2006