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Dante A. Stella

Member

Whether a challenge arises in the fog of litigation or involves technologically and legally daunting data privacy and cybersecurity issues, Dante Stella's balance of creativity, pragmatism, and clarity fuels his effectiveness as a fierce advocate, trusted advisor, and incisive problem-solver.

Dante brings a wealth of diverse but complementary experience to his practice. A seasoned business litigator, he is also exceptionally well-versed in the multitude of ever-evolving and intersecting laws, regulations, and obligations governing the collection, use, storage, and dissemination of data by businesses across every sector of the economy. The common thread in all of Dante’s work, whether in litigation, data privacy and security matters, or matters relating to the use of artificial intelligence, is his ability to analyze and parse large quantities of facts and information, figure out how and where it fits into the applicable legal and regulatory framework, and then develop effective, compliant, and cost-effective solutions focused on achieving client goals or protecting their interests.

Clients rely on Dante not only for his sound guidance but also for the steady hand and illuminating clarity he brings to his counsel. He routinely turns the terrifying into the mundane, providing his clients with a path forward that makes legal, financial, and practical sense in equal measure. 

A leader in the firm's Data Privacy and Cybersecurity group working primarily in incident response, Dante has been involved in remediating high-profile, high-exposure data breaches and other cybersecurity incidents, including state actor, ransomware/extortion, and major supply chain attacks. He is fluent in the language of cyber insurance, digital forensics, crisis PR, threat actor negotiation, FBI communications, client-customer relations, and regulatory cleanup. He has also performed the responder role both as insurance panel counsel, in direct engagements, and in cases where the client wants to carefully monitor insurance-appointed counsel. Dante's responsiveness, agility, and ability to quickly identify issues and construct responsive solutions help contain the fallout from incidents that could pose existential risks for the clients he represents. 

In his litigation practice, Dante is regularly called upon to handle high-stakes matters that involve challenging facts, novel issues of law, and extensive discovery. This latter aspect of the litigation lifecycle is where Dante's analytical proficiency and technological aptitude give his clients a competitive advantage. He possesses an immersive understanding of all aspects of discovery and e-discovery management, including pre-litigation preparedness, litigation holds, compliant data collection, efficient data processing and analytics, and cost-effective document review and production. Dante is also well-versed in pretrial electronic discovery procedure and negotiations, and, where necessary, prosecuting and defending discovery motions in federal and state courts. 

Reflective of his discovery experience and capabilities, Dante guided the buildout of Dykema's Discovery Management and E-Discovery group, a team of attorneys and technologists now supporting 14 offices in six states and the District of Columbia with class-leading technology and techniques.

Dante's litigation experience also extends to government investigations and enforcement actions, helping clients respond to criminal and civil subpoenas and information requests issued by the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Office of Inspector General.

Dante is an editor and author for Dykema's Firewall Blog, contributing a unique take on contemporary events. He also represents the firm's Detroit office on Dykema's Pro Bono Committee.

“Legal challenges do not always call for intricate solutions. Many complicated situations, especially when informed by client goals, break down into smaller, solvable problems. Clarity and simplicity are often the keys to navigating serious challenges.”
    • University of Michigan, J.D.
    • University of Michigan, B.A., magna cum laude
    • L'Università Italiana per Stranieri, Perugia, Diploma di Quinto Grado

  • Bar Admissions

    • Michigan, 1999

  • Court Admissions

    • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit, 2000
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2000
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, 2007
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2011
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2019

    • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®

      • Privacy and Data Security Law, 2024-2026
      • Commercial Litigation, 2024-2026
      • Electronic Discovery and Information Management Law, 2025 and 2026
      • Information Technology Law, 2026

    • Listed in Lawdragon's 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers Guide 2025

    • The Sedona Conference Working Group 1 (Electronic Discovery)

    • The Sedona Conference Working Group 11 (Data Security and Privacy Liability)

    • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Corporate Affiliate

    • American Bar Association (Litigation, Antitrust, and Science & Technology Sections)
    • State Bar of Michigan (Litigation, Antitrust, and Information Technology Law Sections)

    • Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association

    • Member, Law360 Legal Tech Editorial Advisory Board, 2024

    • Detroit Historical Society Board of Trustees

    • Leadership Detroit, Class XXXVIII

    • Intern, Honorable Avern Cohn, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

    • Italian

Contact

Detroit313-568-6693

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