Overview
Daniel Erwin is a Partner in Merkley Jones Eastham’s Houston, Texas office. For nearly 20 years, he has represented clients—including Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies—in high-exposure matters across Texas state and federal courts. His practice focuses on catastrophic-loss claims, including transportation/trucking, energy industry accidents, construction/heavy machinery accidents, premises liability/security, products liability, complex commercial disputes, and construction defect claims. Daniel’s specialty is high-exposure casualty matters, where strategic judgment and effective advocacy are essential. He also counsels national and regional transportation-company clients regarding internal policies, procedures, and best practices designed to reduce future risk.
Daniel has gone to trial in Texas and Arkansas. His trial experience also includes stepping into trial teams serving as “parachute” defense counsel, helping clients secure favorable results both mid-trial and on the eve of trial after pre-trial proceedings. Additionally, he also serves as excess/monitoring counsel for clients in high-exposure matters, providing strategic analysis and recommendations to evaluate and manage risk.
Daniel earned his Juris Doctorate with honors from South Texas College of Law, where he served as an Associate Editor for the Corporate Counsel Review. He earned his B.B.A. with honors from the University of Texas at Tyler, with an emphasis in Business Management. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America in 2025 and 2026.
Professional Information & Education
Practice Areas
- Catastrophic Personal Injury & Wrongful Death
- Transportation
- Trucking
- Energy Industry
- Commercial Litigation
- Premises Liability
Education
- J.D., South Texas College of Law, cum laude
- Associate Editor – Corporate Counsel Review
- B.B.A., University of Texas at Tyler
Court Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
Honors and Distinctions:
- Best Lawyers in America, 2025-2026