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Dwyer Arce

Partner

Dwyer focuses his practice on appeals and commercial litigation in state, territorial, and federal courts across the country. 

He has represented clients at trial, arbitration, administrative hearings, and on appeal in a wide range of cases involving corporate governance disputes, class actions, breach of contract, agribusiness disputes, tax appeals, and personal-injury defense, among others. 

Dwyer’s appellate and commercial litigations practices have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©, which designated Dwyer as a "Lawyer of the Year" in appellate practice in 2023. Some of his litigation successes include:

  • Defending favorable trial decisions when challenged on appeal in state and federal appeals courts;
  • Obtaining next-day emergency reversal of a trial court order denying a stay pending appeal;
  • Successfully presenting oral argument to a federal appeals court sitting en banc;
  • Securing a writ of mandamus from a federal appeals court reinstating a client’s demand for a jury trial;
  • Engaging in complex motions practice at trial and on appeal, including obtaining pre-trial dismissal of agribusiness, corporate governance, and product-liability lawsuits, and successfully reducing the bond required to stay adverse trial verdicts during appeal.

In addition to his litigation practice, Dwyer recently served as President of the Virgin Islands Bar Association and as Chancellor of the Virgin Islands Bar Foundation. His work for the Virgin Islands Bar Association has included preparing proposals for legislative reform by the Virgin Islands Legislature, reviewing the qualifications of individuals seeking appointment to judicial positions, and serving as counsel to the Virgin Islands Bar Association.

Dwyer also serves on the Nebraska Supreme Court Committee on Practice and Procedure, and as Chair of the Nebraska State Bar Association Practice and Procedure Committee. In these roles, Dwyer has been involved in proposing legislation to the Nebraska Legislature, proposing amendments to court rules, and testifying in support of legislation. In addition to his service for the Virgin Islands and Nebraska bars, Dwyer serves on several committees for the Iowa State Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. 

Outside of his practice, Dwyer served as President of the Board of Directors of MICAH House, a family emergency shelter providing temporary housing to members of the Omaha metro and western Iowa communities. Dwyer has volunteered hundreds of hours at the shelter, serving meals, sorting donations, and engaging in structured playtime with children experiencing the stress of living in the shelter.

Dwyer graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. There, he served as a staff writer and later as Managing Editor of JURIST. Before entering private practice, Dwyer clerked for Justice Maria M. Cabret of the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands.

 

  • 2023 Chief Justice Award for Distinguished Service, Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands
  • 2021 Outstanding Young Lawyer, Nebraska State Bar Association
  • 2021 President’s Award, Virgin Islands Bar Association
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, 2021-2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, 2023-2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” in Omaha for Appellate Practice, 2023
  • 2014 Employee of the Year, Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands