Daniel J. Gerl
II
FOUNDER / CEO
Dan is the Founder of Puget Law Group, and currently serves as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Dan is a former prosecutor with over eighteen years of experience handling DUI and other criminal cases in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and throughout Western Washington.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Dan was an award-winning graphic designer and art director. His creative work has been featured in numerous design annuals and publications, including Communication Arts (CA), Print, HOW, and Graphic Design USA.
After a decade in the creative world, fascinated by criminal law, Dan enrolled at the Seattle University School of Law with the goal of becoming a prosecutor. He began his legal career with the Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office, where he handled several jury trials before graduating cum laude from SU. After passing the Bar, Dan continued working as a prosecutor for four years in Federal Way and Pierce County, handling hundreds of DUI cases.
Over time Dan realized that, despite a solid conviction record, his values aligned more with helping the accused than prosecuting them. In 2013, Dan founded Gerl Law PLLC in Seattle, focusing on DUI and criminal defense, and personal injury. In 2015 he relocated to Tacoma where he rebranded his practice, becoming Puget Law Group.
As a former creative, Dan understood the power of branding and advertising, and the role they can play in growing a law firm. Dan leveraged his creative skills and experience to grow PLG from a solo practice to the largest firm of its kind in the Pacific Northwest in less than a decade. Under his leadership, PLG listed as one of Inc. Magazine’s Fastest Growing Private Companies in the U.S. (Inc. 5000) and the fourth fastest private company in Washington State (Puget Sound Business Journal) for 2019, and PLG has appeared on both lists every year since. PLG was also recognized as “The Fastest Growing Criminal Defense Firm in America” in 2022 by Law Firm 500.
Dan also serves as PLG’s Brand / Marketing Director. Under his creative direction, PLG won the coveted “Golden Gavel” Award for “Best Client Testimonial” video by The National Trial Lawyer’s Association in 2022 and 2023.
Dan is rated “10/10” on AVVO, its highest rating. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association. He has been named a “Top 3 DUI Attorney in Tacoma” and a “Top 10 DUI Attorney” for Washington State. Dan is licensed to practice law in courts throughout Washington in both State and Federal Court.
In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his three boys, Johan (15), Onyu (9), and Jack (3), music (he recently bought a bass guitar and is slowing learning how to play it), and sports. With apologies to our local Seahawk fan base, Dan is a lifelong – and season ticket holding – LA Rams fan.