About Dan
Dan Wagner pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, then completed his legal education at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. He built a foundation in law school that led directly into courtroom work. Colleagues and classmates remember him as methodical and direct in classroom advocacy and clinic settings.
After law school, Wagner entered public service as a criminal prosecutor at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. He spent years in that office handling a range of criminal matters. He developed practical courtroom experience through arraignments, hearings and trials. The day-to-day taught him how cases are built or fall apart and how important early investigation and evidence management can be.
Wagner is admitted to practice in California and maintains current professional memberships. His time as a prosecutor exposed him to discovery practice, witness preparation and negotiations with defense counsel. Those skills carried over when he began advising private clients and representing persons facing criminal charges. He approaches casework with an emphasis on procedure, clear factual narratives and thorough preparation for court appearances.
Colleagues describe Wagner as someone who prefers straightforward, practical solutions. He tends to avoid headline-seeking maneuvers and instead prioritizes favorable, realistic outcomes for clients. In court he draws on his experience on the other side of the table to anticipate prosecution strategies and to press procedural and evidentiary points when necessary.
Wagner now practices at Simmons Wagner, LLP. His practice concentrates on criminal matters and on counseling clients through the criminal process from initial charge through resolution. He handles pretrial advocacy and courtroom proceedings, and he works with clients to evaluate plea options and trial choices in light of the facts and procedural posture of each case.
Outside the courtroom he maintains ties to colleagues from his prosecutorial years and participates in professional activities. That network informs how he prepares cases and how he evaluates risk for clients. He currently practices at Simmons Wagner, LLP, where his work concentrates on criminal matters.
