About us

• J.D. with Honors, Thomas Jefferson School of Law (Certificate in Global Legal Studies)

• M.A., The New School in New York City (International Affairs)

• B.A. with Honors, University of Michigan (German Studies and Psychology)

Before law school Dana never expected to fall in love with legal writing, but she did, and fell hard. After competing on two moot court teams, winning two American Jurisprudence Awards, and ending her legal education at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Dana started her career overseeing appeals and motions for a small law firm in New York.

Several years later Dana decided to broaden her legal knowledge base, and started her own practice doing legal writing and litigation strategy on matters ranging from contract disputes to civil rights to international procedure.

Today, Dana works with other lawyers to write motions and appeals with clarity and eloquence, allowing her colleagues to focus on the needs of their clients and cases.

Dana has lectured attorneys for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits and acted as a moot court judge for the American Bar Association. In collaboration with judges she has advised the bar on legal writing and celebrated Law Day by presenting legal issues to high school students.

Dana' s teaching at the Humboldt University in Berlin prompted her move to Germany. A dedicated triathlete, she is delighted that Berlin's abundant lakes allow plenty of opportunity for open-water swimming.

Membership in Bar Associations:

• Berlin Bar Association (Rechtsanwaltskammer Berlin)

• German-American Lawyers Association

• New York Women’s Bar Association (Newsletter Committee)

• New York City Bar Association (Small Law Firms Committee)

• New York County Lawyers Association (Appellate Courts Committee and co-chair of Amicus Subcommittee, Foreign and International Law Committee, Committee on Solo and Small Firm Practice) and NYCLA UN Representative, 2017-2018

• Federal Bar Association

• Co-organizer, Deliberate Solos

Dana is admitted to practice law in New York State, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Heitz Legal collaborates with lawyers who are busy with conferences, client contacts, and the numerous other tasks which leave little time to spend hours producing thorough written briefs.

We also work with companies or individuals to provide strategic advice and research on legal matters and represent litigants on appeals in New York.

We know that cost can be a concern, and working electronically helps us act as efficiently and economically as possible. As a practically paperless office with a low overhead, we're able to offer competitive rates, making outsourcing a useful alternative for you and your law firm.

The process of cooperation

In an initial, free-of-charge consultation, we clarify the nature of the work you need. We will also discuss where the case is pending and identify the controlling procedure. Depending on the case, we may also ask you to send us some materials for a more thorough analysis.

After this initial review, and some preliminary research as needed, we'll send you a services agreement and cost estimate based on a flat fee or an hourly rate, depending on the project. For appeals, we will also contact specialist printers to give you options for the production of the appeal.

Once you've confirmed the estimate in writing or by email, we will begin work and provide regular updates. Filing of the final papers usually falls to the attorney of record, but for appeals we can coordinate with an appellate printer to handle the service and filing.

American lawyers are only allowed to work within the scope of their license. For Heitz Legal, this means that our work mainly concerns litigation before state and federal courts in the State of New York.

But what we can offer to almost any client is our network, spread across the entire US, consisting of lawyers and law firms who provide litigation support or take cases to court.

Dana's network has been invaluable in her career. In February 2016, she co-founded Deliberate Solos, a group of solo practitioner lawyers and the freelance professionals who assist them. Deliberate Solos' virtual meetings are not only for socializing, but also offer the opportunity to give each other feedback and to win partners for upcoming projects.

Today, Deliberate Solos runs largely without Dana's involvement.

If you are interested in this group, you can find out more here.

Trainees and assistants work at Heitz Legal, and we also offer internships.