Daniel I. Papermaster focuses on corporate finance and restructurings, primarily representing various types of financial institutions, hedge funds, and large corporations in financing and restructuring transactions. A significant portion of Dan’s practice is concentrated on syndicated bank financings, representing hedge funds in debt and equity investments and cross-border financings as well as representing institutional investors of privately placed debt. Dan is head of the firm’s private placement team and serves as the deputy leader of the finance practice, which includes the subgroups of international finance, restructuring & bankruptcy, and transactional finance.
Dan has long been active in Connecticut politics. In March 2009, he was appointed by Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman, and he continues to serve on the select committee to screen candidates for high-level federal appointments, including Connecticut’s US Attorney, federal judicial nominations for Connecticut, and federal magistrates in Connecticut.
In 2018, Dan was appointed to chair Connecticut State Treasurer Shawn Wooden’s transition team. In 2003, Dan was appointed by the mayor of the City of Hartford to chair a commission to reorganize the corporation counsel’s office of the City of Hartford. Dan acted as senior adviser to Senator Lieberman’s 2000 vice presidential campaign, as legal counsel to Senator Lieberman’s 2006 US Senate campaign, and as lead negotiator of Senator Lieberman’s Senate debates. In 2010, he served as legal counsel to Republican gubernatorial candidate Oz Griebel.
Dan represents numerous entities involved in economic development projects in Hartford, and is also involved in community activities. He serves on the board of directors of Camp Laurelwood and has been the chairman of Hartford’s Mark Twain Days Festival.
Before joining Morgan Lewis, Dan was operating partner of another international law firm’s managing partner team and was co-chair of the firm’s transactional finance practice.
Recommended, Finance: Commercial lending: advice to lenders, The Legal 500 US (2019–2024)
Recommended, Finance: Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate, The Legal 500 US (2019, 2020)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Banking and Finance Law, Hartford (2010–2020, 2022–2025)
Recommended, Banking and Finance, Latin America: International Firms, The Legal 500 Latin America (2018–2022, 2024, 2025)
Recommended, Capital Markets, Latin America: International Firms, The Legal 500 Latin America (2019–2023)
Notable Practitioner, IFLR1000 United States (2018)
Notable Practitioner, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate (2019–2023)
Ranked, Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A Law (2011–2017)
Recognized, Best Lawyers: Connecticut for Banking & Finance (2017)
Recognized, New England Super Lawyers (2008–2020)
Recognized, Connecticut Super Lawyers (2008–2020)
Lawyer of the Year, Banking and Finance, Hartford, The Best Lawyers in America (2012)
Twice named one of the “40 Under 40” by the Hartford Business Journal (1997, 2000)
Chairman’s Award from the Hartford Downtown Council (1997)
Liberty Bell Award, outstanding public service from the Hartford County Bar Association (1997)
“Bring it Home to Hartford” Award from the Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau (1996)
Public Service Award from the Connecticut Valley Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America
Member, Connecticut Bar Association
Member, American College of Investment Counsel
Member, American Bar Association