Hinshaw Partner D.L. Morriss Named One of Chicago's Notable Minority Lawyers

November 28, 2018

The U.S. law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is pleased to announce that partner Daniel L. "D.L." Morriss has been recognized as one of Chicago's Notable Minority Lawyers by Crain's Chicago Business. Morriss, a commercial litigation partner in Hinshaw's Chicago office, also serves as the firm's Diversity & Inclusion partner as well as in other firm and community leadership positions.

"We congratulate D.L. for this well-deserved recognition from Crain's Chicago Business for his efforts to lead, mentor, and pave the path for other minority lawyers," said Hinshaw Chairman Kevin Joseph Burke. "D.L.'s skills as an attorney and leadership on a range of initiatives at Hinshaw underscores the firm's commitment to the hiring, advancement, and retention of minority lawyers—and through his civic efforts as well, he has set a great example for our attorneys."

Chicago's Notable Minority Lawyers, a feature published by Crain's Chicago Business, profiles senior-level minority lawyers in Chicago, who have significantly impacted the legal community, and who have contributed to the business community as a whole.

Morriss represents regional and Fortune 500 financial institutions in commercial claims, with a focus on assisting lenders in high-value workout disputes, post-judgment collections, tax disputes, and other issues. In addition to his practice, he is devoted to ensuring the success of the next generation of minority lawyers.

In his role as Hinshaw's Diversity & Inclusion Partner, Morriss oversees committees that address diversity, mentoring, and attorney life. He leads initiatives such as the development of the firm's annual and mid-year Diversity & Inclusion reports, and events such as a creative storytelling collaboration with Second Story, which created a show exclusively for Hinshaw addressing racial microaggressions and toxic masculinity.

Morriss also is a member of the firm's Associate Hiring Committee, Social Media Committee, and Hinshaw University's Planning Committee.

"I am honored to be recognized with this year's group of Chicago's Notable Minority Lawyers," said Morriss. "Companies today expect diverse representation, and I am proud of our efforts at Hinshaw to provide diverse teams. At the same time, the legal profession as a whole cannot be satisfied with the status quo, but must continue to find new ways to exceed targets for growth and impact of diverse talent."

In addition to his efforts within Hinshaw, Morriss has done pro bono work representing criminal defendants, including before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and he previously served on the Chicago Bar Association's Judicial Evaluation Committee.

Morriss serves on the Executive Committee of Joffrey Ballet's Board of Directors, and has been a Board member since 2016. He was named a 2016 Fellow by Leadership Greater Chicago, and is among the Emerging Leaders of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.

He earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 2008 and his B.A. in Psychology from Wheaton College in 2005.

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a U.S.-based law firm with offices nationwide. The firm's national reputation spans the insurance industry, the financial services sector, professional services, and other highly regulated industries. Hinshaw provides holistic legal solutions—from litigation and dispute resolution, and business advisory and transactional services, to regulatory compliance—for clients of all sizes. Visit www.hinshawlaw.com for more information and follow @Hinshaw on LinkedIn and X.