Married (Irma Hall) and two children, 
John III and Inez

 

Professional Experience 
John Daniels has been the chairman of Quarles & Brady LLP since 2007. In his position, he has led the Firm through a fundamental transformation, shifting from the traditional operational model upon which most major law firms are built to a client-centric, business-minded organization. Mr. Daniels has driven this fundamental cultural shift in the midst of the worst economy in decades, leading to significant growth while most of the legal industry has declined.

 

Mr. Daniels is well recognized in the legal community as well as the business community. He is listed in The Business Journal of Milwaukee “Power Book” (2009 & 2010), was named 2009 “Lawyer of the Year” by the Milwaukee Bar Association, received the 2008 “Leadership Award” from the National Bar Association, and was identified as one of the “100 Managing Partners You Need to Know” by Lawdragon in 2008. Finally, Mr. Daniels is fully credentialed in legal literature, having been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (1993-present: Real Estate Law), Chambers USA® (2003-present: Real Estate) and the 2005-2009 Wisconsin Super Lawyers® lists (Real Estate). He is also Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated.

 

Mr. Daniels, formerly the national president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, has established an impressive career in the practice of real estate law, representing national, regional, local and governmental owners, and investors. He has played a significant role in some of the most complex real estate redevelopment projects in the United States, including representing the largest property owner in connection with the redevelopment of the Midwest Airlines Center and representing the largest property owner in connection with the redevelopment of the Bradley Sports Center. He has also served as lead counsel for major institutions both in the financing and the disposition of commercial office space. He serves as national real estate counsel for Philip Morris Capital Corporation and has represented a number of major corporations on their real estate developments throughout the U.S., including General Electric Capital Corporation, Xerox Corporation and Kraft Foods.

Mr. Daniels has further led Quarles to a position of industry prominence as a firm that values diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The Firm ranks impressively in surveys conducted by women’s and minority groups, and both clients and independent organizations have recognized and honored Quarles for its achievements in this area. As the only African-American chairman in the AmLaw 200, Mr. Daniels was named one of the “50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America” by the National Law Journal in 2008, and he has received the 2008 James Howard Baker Award for his efforts to improve the quality of life for African-Americans in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He also received the “Human Relations Award” from the National Conference of Christians & Jews, the “Outstanding Community Leader Award” by the Thurgood J. Marshall College Fund, and he was named to the national Hall of Fame by the National Black Law Students Association in 2009.

 

Education and Honors

• Harvard Law School (J.D., 1974)

• University of Wisconsin (M.S., 1972)

• North Central College (B.A., 1969)

 

Bar Admissions 
Wisconsin, 1974

 

Professional Recognition 
Honors:

• Received the John and Irma Daniels Humanitarian Award from the St. Francis Children's Center (Milwaukee, WI) in 2008.

• Appointed Fellow at the Ford Foundation.

• Appointed Fellow at the National Science Foundation. 
  Given the Outstanding Alumni Award from North Central College.

Professional and Civic Activities

• American College of Real Estate Lawyers (National President).

• American Bar Association (National Secretary Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section).

• State Bar of Wisconsin (Member).

• Milwaukee Bar Association (Past Director).

• Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association (President, 1981-1982).

• American Bar Association (National Vice President, Law Students Division, 1973-1974).

• Quarles & Brady Diversity Committee (Co-chair).

Public Service/Community Affairs:

• Greater Milwaukee Foundation (Chair of the Board of Directors).

• Greater Milwaukee Committee (Vice Chairman).

• Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (Director).

• Ralph Evinrude Foundation (Director).

• Medical College of Wisconsin (Director Emeritus).

• Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (Past Director).

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Milwaukee (Past Director).

Corporate Directorships:

• Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (Director).

• V&J Foods, Inc. (Director).

• North Milwaukee State Bank (Former Chair).

• Zilber Neighborhood Initiative (Board Member).

• Aurora Health Care (Board of Directors).

Selected Presentations/Publications

• Featured, “The Book of Daniels,” Wisconsin Super Lawyers, December 2010.

• Co-panelist (with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor & Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson), “Politicization of Judicial Election Campaigns: Whose Party is it Anyway?,” Wisconsin State Bar Annual Convention, May 6, 2010.

• Featured (with other global real estate professionals), “Real Estate Focus,” Corporate INTL, 2010.

• Featured, “John W. Daniels Jr.: Developing a firm culture that puts people first,” Wisconsin Lawyer, May 2009.

• Panelist, MCCA's 10th Annual Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference, “The Diversity Director and Managing Partner: Best Practices to Forge an Essential Partnership,” September 2009.

• Featured, “A Leader's Perspective on Leadership,” Clark Atlanta Magazine, Fall 2008/Winter 2009.

• Featured, “100 Law Firm Managing Partners You Need to Know,” Lawdragon, June 2008.

• Featured, “An Interview with John Daniels, Jr.,” Cook County Bar Association newsletter, August 2008.

• Interview, Black Nouveau television program.

• Modern Real Estate Transactions–ALI-ABA.

• Real Estate Editor, ABA Barrister Law Notes.

• Featured, "Quarles and Brady open Shanghai Law Office"