Rod de Llano

Background & Career

Rod de Llano was born and raised in Laredo, Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Princeton University, where he developed the analytical rigor that would later distinguish his approach to complex litigation.

Before attending law school, Rod managed an import/export business — an experience that gave him firsthand insight into the business world and the way corporations make decisions. That business acumen continues to inform his litigation strategy, allowing him to follow the money, understand corporate decision-making, and hold manufacturers accountable for the choices they made about asbestos.

Rod earned his Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1993. He was admitted to the Texas Bar on April 9, 1993, and began his legal career in the general litigation section of a large international law firm, where he defended corporations against product liability claims.

Rod left the defense side and dedicated his career to representing the workers and families harmed by asbestos exposure. Together with Paul Danziger, he co-founded Danziger & De Llano, LLP — a firm built from the ground up to represent mesothelioma patients and their families.

Over the course of his 30+ year career, Rod and the D&D team have helped recover more than $2 billion for mesothelioma patients and their families. As Director of Legal Services, Rod oversees case strategy across all active mesothelioma, asbestos trust fund, and wrongful death matters.

Awards & Recognition

• Super Lawyers — Texas (Class Action/Mass Torts)
• Leader’s Forum — American Association for Justice

Community Involvement

Outside the courtroom, Rod is actively involved in organizations that support children, families, and underserved communities across the Houston area and throughout Texas:

• Child Advocates — Supporting court-appointed advocates for abused and neglected children in Houston
• Houston Food Bank — Helping provide meals to families facing food insecurity across southeast Texas
• Star of Hope — Supporting Houston’s mission for the homeless, providing shelter, meals, and rehabilitation
• DePelchin Children’s Center — Helping children and families in crisis through foster care, adoption, and counseling services
• Texas Civil Rights Project — Advancing civil rights and social justice across the state of Texas