Danny Tobey M.D., J.D.

Partner

Global Co-Chair and Chair of DLA Piper Americas AI and Data Analytics Practice

Danny Tobey is by far one of the top leaders and industry experts in AI.

— Chambers Global Guide 2025

Emaildanny.tobey@us.dlapiper.com

Call+1 214 743 4538

Dallas

About

Danny Tobey is a trusted advisor to the world's most prominent companies, boards, and governments, guiding them through transformative change and complex risk landscapes. With deep experience in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, Danny provides 360-degree support throughout the technology lifecycle, from strategic planning and deployment to governance, optimization, and investigations and/or litigation defense when issues arise. Renowned for his multidisciplinary experience as a seasoned litigator, medical doctor, and successful software founder, Danny is recognized by the Financial Times as one of the most "consistently impactful" legal practitioners of the past two decades and "a pioneer in the current shift in the practice of law from reactive to proactive." Clients consistently praise his "creativity, insight, and forward-looking solutions to our most difficult problems," with Chambers USA and Chambers Global describing him as "incredibly impressive and unique" and "on the cutting edge of practitioners." The Library of Congress has honored his writing as the "best of the best in the legal profession."

As a litigator, Danny has led clients through their most critical disputes and investigations. He played a pivotal role in securing one of the largest product liability victories in pharmaceutical history, successfully arguing key motions in federal Daubert proceedings. Danny achieved a unanimous reversal in a landmark federal Research & Development (R&D) tax case, dramatically increasing his client's return, and represents a leading cancer charity in enforcing its royalty rights for groundbreaking research. He has also delivered precedent-setting results in emerging technology litigation, including the first successful resolution of a Generative AI hallucination lawsuit for a top global technology company and is leading post-settlement remediation in the first major State Attorney General Generative AI settlement.

Danny is a sought-after counselor for companies navigating legal risk in the adoption and development of new technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence. Chambers Global Spotlight recognizes him as "by far one of the top leaders and industry experts in AI." His thought leadership has been cited by the United Nations for "profound insights on AI, law, and ethics," and by Oxford for his "crucial" innovations in red-teaming AI for legal risk. Danny has advised at least half of the Fortune 10, as well as most major hyperscalers and innovators, on their most complex AI challenges.

Leveraging his medical background, Danny counsels leading life sciences companies on the most advanced biotechnology issues. Chambers USA highlights his "deep subject matter expertise across technology, law, and healthcare and life sciences." He played a key legal role in the global risk management of the first mRNA Covid vaccine and led risk mitigation for the first fully autonomous Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved diagnostic device. Danny is a frequent presenter on robotics and AI alongside industry leaders such as Johnson & Johnson.

Danny leads a hybrid legal and technical team that harnesses AI to proactively manage risk and prevent emerging issues. His team has developed bespoke, client-specific small language models for proactive compliance, enabling early detection of statutory risk, and has rigorously tested AI systems for consumer protection, product liability, discrimination, and other legal exposures. These innovations have earned his firm recognition for Best Law Firm Use of AI (American Lawyer) and Innovation in New Services to Manage Risk (Financial Times), among other accolades.

Deeply committed to community service, Danny has chaired the board of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and served on the executive committees of the Perot Museum of Nature & Science, the Parkland Foundation, and the Yale Law School Association. In 2025, he was elected to the American Law Institute. Danny is also a co-founder of the United Nations' AI for Good Law Track and the AI Law & Justice Institute, reflecting his dedication to advancing the responsible use of technology in society.

Areas of FocusHealthcare Life Sciences Technology Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics

Bar admissionsNew YorkTexas

EXPERIENCE

Advising numerous machine learning, robotics, and digital health companies on regulatory, liability, and risk mitigation issues
Obtained as lead counsel for Fortune 100 company a voluntary complete dismissal with prejudice of all claims against it in federal court on the eve of filing motion to dismiss
Successfully argued before Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, winning affirmance of dismissal of all claims against client in a trade secrets case; opinion issued two weeks after oral argument
Successfully represented life-sciences company as lead counsel in eight-figure dispute over acquisition
Argued before en banc Delaware Supreme Court, winning affirmance of nearly US$1 million fee award for private equity client against bad-faith litigants; affirmed one day after oral argument by the Chief Justice writing for the full court
Argued before Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, winning unanimous reversal and remand on complex tax issue of first impression involving research and development tax credits; authored winning brief on remand
Represented Medicare Administrative Contractor in defense against consolidated complaint before the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Represented client in litigation with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) involving clinical trial design
Helped obtain complete victory for pharmaceutical client in first Hatch-Waxman case in the Eastern District of Texas; used medical background to prepare scientific non-obviousness case; federal court validated all three patents and enjoined competitors from violating them; result affirmed by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
Successfully defended major bank against US$19 billion alternative credit manager; handled winning first-chair argument preserving client's counterclaims for US$37.5 million; led drafting of defense motions resulting in dismissal of US$7 million of plaintiff's US$11 million in claims
Obtained dismissal on forum-selection grounds for private equity fund in suit involving allegations of fraud and breach of contract
Represented multiple hospitals in peer review and credentialing matters
Representing molecular diagnostics laboratory in major reimbursement dispute with payor
Conducted investigation for hospital system involving allegations of self-referral and anti-kickback violations
Successfully resolved as mediator case involving allegations of self-referral and anti-kickback violations
Obtained affirmance of complete dismissal of health privacy invasion claims against prominent media outlet in state appellate court
Represented healthcare system in major case involving allegations of physician misconduct and reporting obligations; client found to have no liability on appeal
Represented Quality Improvement Organization against allegations of medical malpractice invoking federal immunity
Represented distressed lender advising on payor disputes of a portfolio hospital system and related proceedings
Successfully defended as lead trial counsel a historic religious denomination sued by a breakaway faction in a church property case in Texas state court; obtained a multimillion-dollar (net) settlement payment to defendant-client and dismissal of all plaintiffs' claims
Lead trial counsel for the SPCA of Texas defending against a complex probate matter; settled favorably at mediation
Second-chaired six-week jury trial in state court defending against US$22 million fraud claim; successfully argued opposition to summary judgment, preserving the client's suit for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty; examined trial witnesses, argued directed verdict and delivered portion of the closing argument
Handled summary judgment proceedings for preeminent law-firm client, obtaining dismissal of all claims in a breach of contract suit
Obtained denial of petition for review by Texas Supreme Court for prominent New York law firm, leaving in place reversal and rendition of dismissal by Dallas Court of Appeals
Led briefing before Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, winning affirmance in pertinent part of plaintiff investment firm's summary judgment win on claims of fraudulent transfer and piercing the corporate veil (monetary damages)

Education

M.D., The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, 2008
Southwestern Foundation Scholarship for outstanding scholastic achievements; four-year Alumni Scholar

J.D., Yale Law School, 2003
Benjamin Scharps Prize for "the best paper by a third-year student"
Margaret Gruter Prize for the best paper on biological sciences and the law

A.B., Harvard University, 1999
magna cum laude with Highest Honors in Social Studies
1999 Philo Sherman Bennett Award for "the best essay discussing the principles of free government"
John Harvard Scholarship for "academic achievement of the highest distinction"
Phi Beta Kappa

Awards

Publications and Media

Seminars

Panelist, "Algorithmic Anamnesis: Bringing Explainability to Life in Health Care," IAPP AI Governance Global North America, September 19, 2025
Panelist, "Designing Responsible AI Governance: Moving from Principles to Practice," ITU GSR Riyadh, September 3, 2025
Panelist, "RegTech – Leveraging Emerging Technologies for Regulatory Excellence," ITU GSR Riyadh, September 3, 2025
Interventionist, "Industry Advisory Group on Development Issues and Private Sector Chief Regulatory Officers' (IAGDI-CRO) Meeting," ITU GSR Riyadh, September 1, 2025
Fireside Chat, "Crafting a well-balanced, pro-innovation regulatory framework," United Nations AI for Good, July 9, 2025
Panelist, "Human in the Loop," Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Global Summit, June 24, 2025
Panelist, "Governing Technology at the Intersection of Innovation and Risk," Director Peer Exchange, June 2, 2025
Panelist, "Responsible AI in a Complex World," PwC's AI Leadership Exchange, April 24, 2025
Speaker, "AI in Action: Enhancing Clinical Decision-Making with AI," Life Sciences AI Summit, February 21, 2025
Presenter, "Red-teaming AI Systems in Healthcare," Duke Institute of Health Innovation, Health AI Partnership, December 18, 2024
Presenter, "The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on International Arbitration 'AI? What is it?'" ICC Institute of World Business Law Annual Conference, November 12, 2024
Workshop, "Driving Innovation in the Face of the EU AI Act," Financial Times Future of AI Summit, November 7, 2024
Roundtable, "Building Trustworthy AI at Scale: How to create value from a fair and transparent system," Financial Times Future of AI Summit, November 7, 2024
Panelist, "The rapidly evolving global AI regulatory landscape – Balancing innovation and competition," Financial Times Future of AI Summit, November 6, 2024
Panelist, "AI: unlocking the future of the Life Sciences industry," DLA Piper Global Life Sciences Summit, November 6, 2024
Panelist, "Artificial Intelligence: Innovations and Regulations in the Entertainment World," USC Gould School of Law-Beverly Hills Bar Association's Institute on Entertainment Law and Business, October 19, 2024
Speaker, "Responsible AI: An Ethical Grounding for General Counsels," Wall Street Journal's The Modern GC: Navigating Artificial Intelligence, October 10, 2024
Panelist, "Navigating the AI Regulatory Landscape," alongside speakers from SEC and FINRA, Compliance Week AI & Compliance Summit, October 8, 2024
Moderator, "The Latest and Greatest in AI Governance Frameworks—and the Interplay with Privacy and GDPR Compliance Structures: Concrete Examples and Lessons Learned," AI Law, Ethics, Safety & Compliance Conference, September 26, 2024
Panelist, "Innovative Teaming: The New Role of AI," Global Women's Leadership Summit, September 18, 2024
Presenter, "Addressing Legal Risks in GenAI: The Importance of Legal Red Teaming," July 25, 2024
Panelist, "Oxford Future of Professionals Roundtable," Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, June 26, 2024
Panelist, "Emerging Trends in Artificial Intelligence Adoption," ACFE Global Fraud Conference, Las Vegas, June 24, 2024
Moderator, "AI for Good: Corporate Trailblazers," UN AI for Good Global Summit, Geneva, Switzerland, May 31, 2024
Speaker, "AI Summit: Balancing Growth and Governance," Mandarin Oriental, Miami, May 14-15, 2024
Speaker, "2024 CodeX FutureLaw conference," The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, April 11, 2024
Panelist, "Creating AI Tools for Tomorrow: Harnessing AI For Dispute Avoidance, and Effective Dispute Resolution," International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution Annual Meeting, March 8, 2024
Co-Chair of ACI's Inaugural Life Sciences AI Summit, February 2024
Speaker, "Ethics & Technology: The Evolving Practice of Law and Your Ethical Responsibilities," 43rd Annual Ray Garrett Jr. Corporate & Securities Law Institute, October 5, 2023
Invited Speaker, "NACD Master Class® on AI's Impact on Strategy and the Board," moderated by Karim Lakhani, Harvard Business School; Chair, D3 Institute at Harvard; Director, Mozilla, August 21, 2023
Speaker, "Council of Public Funds Compliance Officers call on Emerging Standards in AI Governance," July 31, 2023
Invited Panelist, "AI and the AG," AG Alliance Annual Meeting, moderated by Attorney General Kris Kobach, Kansas, June 20, 2023
Presenter, "Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) Claims, Appeals, and Efforts to Reform the Law," the National Retail Federation, June 7, 2023
Presenter, "Tech & Trade Forum in Seoul," the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, May 9, 2023
Speaker, "The Intersection of Law and Artificial Intelligence," Eye on AI #121, April 28, 2023
Speaker, "Adaptive Law: What Will Regulation Become?" CodeX Futurelaw Conference 2023," The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, April 13, 2023
Speaker, "Legal Framework of AI in the United States, Swissnex New York and Boston," Swiss Embassy in the U.S., March 10, 2023
Moderator, "AI: Opportunities and Challenges, panel of FICO and others, Structured Finance Association's SFVegas," February 26 – March 1, 2023
Moderator, "Leveraging the Private Sector to Reach Health Security Goals in Africa," on the sidelines of the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, January 09, 2023
Moderator, "Fireside Chat on Improving Health Security in Africa through Strategic Partnership," US-Africa Leaders' Summit, December 13, 2022
Moderator, "Ministerial Roundtable on Improving Health Outcomes in Africa through Innovative Solutions," July 2022
Moderator, "Advancing Patient Outcomes Through Partnerships," Disease Foundation Forum, March 21, 2022
Invited Panelist, "Explainable AI," UTA, 6th Annual Business Analytics Symposium, March 3, 2022
Moderator, "Advances in Healthcare Technology – Cure or Cause?" International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution, Annual Meeting 2022, March 3, 2022
Panelist, "Machine Learning & AI for Healthcare," HIMSS Conference, December 14-15, 2021
Panelist, "Healthy vs Hype: The State of AI in Healthcare," August 30th, 2020
Speaker, "Artificial Intelligence and Health Care: The Intersection of Science and Law," WCL, July 8, 2020
Panelist: "The People vs. OJ Simpson: Strategy Lessons from the Trial of the Century," February 2020
Panelist: "Effective Motion Presentation for the Busy Trial Court: Drafting and Oral Arguments," February 2020
Moderator, "Fireside Chat with Dr. Amy Abernethy," Principal Deputy Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, Texas Israel Life Sciences and Healthcare Innovation Conference, October 25, 2019
Distinguished Speaker, "Texas Analytics Summit 2019," Sponsored by Dell, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas, "Streamline Your Legal and Privacy Approach to AI" October 17-18, 2019
Speaker, "Texas Analytics Summit," October 2019
Speaker, "Streamline Your Legal and Privacy Approach to AI," Xavier AI Summit, August 2019
Moderator, "Raising Funds for Your Medical Device Company," Biocom's DeviceFest & Digital Health Conference, Moderator, Correlation Ventures, GTCR, August 2019
Moderator, "AI is Everywhere: A Sector-by-Sector discussion regarding the Opportunities and Challenges with Artificial Intelligence," Healthcare: Novartis, IBM Watson Health, Athenahealth, IDx, Suffolk Law School, June 2019
Faculty, TMXc Accelerator, Texas Medical Center, "Digital Health Regulation," February 25, 2019, with Kristi Kung
"Fireside Chat," Duke Institute for Health Innovation, December 3, 2018
Presenter, "Mitigating Legal Risks in Digital Health Adoption," with Kristi Kung, November 13, 2018
Presenter, "Emerging Medical and Legal Issues in AI," October 7, 2018
Presenter, "Email Through the Eyes of Judges and Juries"

Media Mentions

Prior Experience

Danny Tobey served as a legal intern to the Chief of Criminal Appeals of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York in 2001.

Memberships And Affiliations