Dale Giali partners with many of the world’s most successful and iconic consumer packaged goods brands to efficiently navigate and win false advertising consumer class actions involving food, beverage, supplement and consumer products that are being targeted by a relentless (and oftentimes shameless) plaintiffs’ bar and its never-ending-list of challenges. On the frontlines in this battle since the blitz of false advertising litigation that began in 2008 against food and beverage manufacturers, Dale delivers practical, common-sense advice grounded in more than 35 years of litigation experience, comprehensive knowledge of federal and state law governing labeling and advertising, deep familiarity with the plaintiffs’ bar, and a clear-eyed understanding of how courts will rule on procedural and merits issues—enabling clients to make cost-efficient, well-informed decisions about when and what to litigate and how to avoid disputes altogether. His practice extends beyond brand manufacturers to retailers, distributors, and other companies across the CPG supply chain, bringing the same battle-tested approach whether the dispute involves a single complaint or a coordinated wave of class actions filed across multiple jurisdictions. Dale operates where law, science, and regulation converge—territory where these cases are increasingly fought and won. He is fluent in the technical evidence that drives modern food and consumer products litigation, from product formulations and testing protocols to scientific literature and regulatory frameworks. That fluency allows him to work hand-in-glove with technical consultants and industry experts to build factual records that withstand aggressive challenge, and to translate complex scientific material into arguments that land with judges who may have no background in the underlying discipline. His practice also encompasses competitor challenges under the Lanham Act, trade secret disputes and related commercial litigation—giving him a panoramic view of how any single dispute fits within a client’s broader legal and business landscape and enabling him to serve as a single coordinating point of contact across multiple litigation fronts. Clients count on Dale not just to win cases but to contain the disruption that litigation inflicts on their businesses. He stays engaged regardless of whether there is a manifested dispute, tracking plaintiff-side trends and regulatory shifts, flagging emerging risks, and helping companies adjust their marketing and labeling practices before they become targets. That ongoing partnership—rooted in commonsense, candor, consistent results, and genuine investment in each client’s long-term success—is what turns first-time engagements into lasting relationships.
Dale has materially shaped the law governing consumer packaged goods false advertising over the last two decades, securing precedent-setting rulings that benefit industry broadly in the areas of pleading attacks, experts, class certification and summary judgment. His volume of experience in motions (to dismiss, class certification, summary judgment, Daubert, etc.), discovery, experts, appeals and pre-and post-litigation ADR—spanning hundreds of consumer class actions and competitor challenges in courts across the country—gives him pattern recognition that translates directly into efficient, cost-effective representation for his clients.
Clients rely on Dale to assess litigation risk with precision and provide succinct and clear reports and recommendations. Because he understands how specific claims will fare before specific judges—and how the plaintiffs’ bar operates—he helps companies avoid the expense of unnecessary litigation while pressing advantages where the law supports favorable outcomes. His counsel covers the full range of false advertising theories targeting CPG companies, which currently including failure to disclose alleged product contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, PFAS, microplastics, etc.), sustainability and green marketing claims, nutrition and health claims, natural/no artificials, featured ingredient call-outs, war-on-sugar (and other ingredients with alleged negative health outcomes), health halo theories, and flavor labeling, among others.
Dale’s approach is built on efficiency, commonsense and client-focused concerns. Before engaging in motion practice, he evaluates the full scope of a client’s exposure—not just the claims on the page, but the likelihood of follow-on suits, potential regulatory interest, and, significantly, a brand’s core values and the reputational consequences of litigation. That early assessment shapes every decision that follows. He identifies the strongest path to success—whether through early dismissal via pleading attacks, defeating class certification, or obtaining summary judgment, or leveraging a well-developed factual and legal record to secure favorable resolution—and executes against that plan without wasted activity. When early resolution better serves the client’s interests, he negotiates outcomes that protect the business without unnecessary disruption to operations or product strategy. He also advises clients on consumer deception risk and regulatory compliance to reduce litigation exposure before claims are made.
Despite the fact that Dale counts more than 50 reported court decisions in his cases in the last 15 years, many of Dale’s most valuable results never make headlines—dismissals that end cases before discovery begins, early settlements on terms that preserve business relationships, and rulings that prompt plaintiffs to walk away. He measures success not by the complexity of the legal arguments but by whether the client achieved its objectives with minimal cost and disruption. The clients Dale represents value his directness, responsiveness, and ability to translate complex legal risk into clear business guidance. He practices in state and federal trial and appellate courts nationwide, managing multi-front litigation with a consistent focus on the business outcomes that matter most to his clients.
Benchmark Litigation has repeatedly recognized Dale as a Litigation Star for class actions and he was named a BTI Super All-Star. He has also been recognized by The National Law Journal as a Litigation Trailblazer. Dale was identified by Law360 as an MVP in the field of class action litigation in the United States. Dale is consistently recognized in Chambers USA and Legal 500, including as a Legal 500 "Leading Individual" for trade secret misappropriation litigation, and he was named to Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for Intellectual Property: Trade Secrets (Litigation and Non-contentious matters).
