“I am an attorney and counselor who advises my clients on how to successfully navigate everyday business hurdles.”
Dan is an experienced attorney who has served in a variety of legal roles in his career, including as general counsel of a large life insurance company, as well as extensive experience in private practice. Dan's mix of clients includes insurance companies and other financial institutions, IT and consulting companies, and nonprofits. He has been working on privacy and cybersecurity issues since 1996, including development of terms and conditions and disclaimers on Fortune 500 websites in the late 1990s. He has been the chief privacy officer of several companies and law firms, and has extensive experience as in-house counsel. Dan is experienced in dealing with complex insurance regulatory issues and transactions, and substantial reorganizations of holding company systems. Throughout his career, he has negotiated thousands of contracts from simple to complex, including outsourcing. He also has substantial experience with internal investigations and employment-related issues.
Services
Business & Corporate
Our business is business–your business. We offer vast experience in a full array of corporate legal services.
Credentials
Education
- The John Marshall Law School, 1995
- J.D., summa cum laude
- Law Review, 1992-1995; Staff Editor, 1994
- ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition, Participant, 1994
- Monmouth College, 1988
- B.A., magna cum laude, Accounting
- Departmental Honors, Accounting, 1988
- Blue Key Senior Man of the Year, 1988
- Mortar Board of Honor Fraternity, President, 1986-1987
Memberships
- The American Law Institute
- LexisNexis
- Insurance Advisory Board for Practical Guidance, Board Member, 2021
- Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals
- General Counsel, 2020
- American Bar Association
- Cybersecurity Legal Task Force
- House of Delegates, 2015-present
- National Conference of Bar Presidents
- Metropolitan Bar Caucus Committee, Chair, 2012-present
- Board Member, 2015-2018
- Chicago Bar Association
- Media and Civic Education, Inc., Board Member, 2021
- Insurance Law Committee, Co-Chair, 2019-present
- President, 2014-2015
- Board of Managers, 2003-2004; 2005-2007; 2010-2016
- Young Lawyers Section, Chair, 2003-2004
- Chicago Bar Foundation
- Board of Directors, 2004-2011; 2013-2016
- Treasurer, 2009-2011
- Justice Entrepreneurs Project, Advisory Board Chair, 2021
- National Conference of Bar Presidents
- Secretary, 2021
Admissions
- Illinois, 1995
- Law Division Arbitration Program, Personal Injury and Commercial, Arbitrator, 2021
- Certified Information Privacy Professional-United States (CIPP/US), 2016
- Supreme Court of the United States, 2011
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1996
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1995
- Successfully completed the Certified Public Accountant exam, 1989
Professional Achievements
- National Conference of Bar Presidents
- Secretary, 2021.
- Treasurer, 2022.
- President Elect, 2023.
- Illinois Super Lawyers, 2017-2023
- Illinois Leading Lawyers, 2016-2021
- Monmouth College, Moot Court Judge, 2011-2020
- "Professional and Medical Corporations." Illinois Business Law: Choice of Entity, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2020 Ed., 8-1—8-33.
Experience
Representative Matters
Advised Illinois Department of Insurance regarding first two insurance company demutualizations approved under the Illinois Insurance Code.
Advised standby purchaser on first life insurance demutualization in Illinois and obtained approval of transaction by Illinois Department of Insurance.
Represented buyer in purchase of a Massachusetts-domiciled insurer and redomestication to Nebraska.
Obtained certificates of authority for client to expand to more than forty jurisdictions.
Advised non-profit entities on complex dissolutions, mergers, and conversions.
Conducted an internal investigation of alleged sexual harassment at a non-insurance related entity by a board member.
Acted as regulatory counsel on sale of an Illinois-domiciled life and annuity insurer to an Arizona-domiciled insurance group, including regulatory filings and approvals.
Presentations
Dan has presented hundreds of times throughout his career on a variety of substantive topics. Recent presentations include:
- Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section - What Attorneys Need to Know about Ransomware Attacks, May 19, webinar.
- American Arbitration Association - Learn-a-Latte, May 9, 2023, co-host.
- AICP Great Lakes Chapter Educational Day - Presentation on ESG, May 5, 2023, presenter.
- "Cyber & Privacy: The Everchanging Landscape for Insurers as Purchasers and Providers," April 27, 2023, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association - "Issues to Consider for Nonprofit Managers," April 13, 2023, presenter.
- "Breaking Barriers: Finding New Paths to Justice" - Symposium hosted by the UIC Law Review & American Constitution Society, April 13, 2023, panelist.
- North Shore General Counsel Association Meeting, March 9, 2023, co-host.
- UIC Corporate Law Society, March 10, 2023, panelist.
- NAMIC Commercial and Personal Lines Seminar: Navigating the Choppy Water of Workers' Compensation Second Level, March 9, 2023, speaker.
- Cyber Exposures & Coverages, Part 1: Underwriting Approaches, February 28, 2023, panelist.
- Mediation Tips & The Mandatory Arbitration Program in the Circuit Court CLE by North Suburban Bar Association, November 29, 2022, speaker.
- Emerging Nonprofit Training Program ("Bootcamp for Nonprofit Founders) by Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights
- Nonprofit Board Basics, October 3, 2022, presenter.
- Board Duties, October 5, 2022, presenter.
- AICP Conference in Miami
- Property & Casualty Q&A, September 18, 2022, moderator.
- Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance (ESG) - Making New Waves, September 21, 2022, panelist.
- Special Events Insurance - September 21, 2022, panelist.
- myLawCLE | What Lawyers Need to Know About Financial Statements: Understanding how financial statements interact with business and legal issues, July 29, 2022, speaker.
- Northwest Suburban Bar Association, "Cyber and Privacy for Lawyers: Steps to Protection," July 27, 2022, webinar.
- Chicago-Kent College of Law Supreme Court Summer Institute, Preparation & Moot Court, July 21, 2022, speaker.
- AICP Great Lakes Chapter, on privacy. June 17, 2022, speaker.
- Chicago Bar Association, "Business Development and Marketing for Litigators," June 13, 2022, webinar.
- National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, "Trends in Class Action Litigation," April 18, 2022, webinar.
- American Bar Association, "Beyond Traditional Notions of Cyber Security: A Look at Data Misuse and Integrity," March 2-4, 2022, panelist.
- Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Mid-Year Meeting, Panel Discussion, "Cyber Insurance – Risks vs Reality – You Have Heard of Too Big to Fail – Too Big to Insure?" February 24, 2022, Phoenix, AZ.
- Inside BS Interviews with Dave Lorenzo, "Is Your Business Safe From a Cyber Attack? IT'S NOT!" February 8, 2022, podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjpmshxM56Q.
- Chicago Bar Association Insurance Law Company, Presentation, "Recent WC Decisions, BIPA and Exclusive Remedy, and Nuclear Verdicts and Insurance," February 2, 2022, webcast.
- Chicago Bar Association, Panel Discussion, "Become an Arbitrator in the Law Division Mandatory Arbitration Program," January 26, 2022, webinar.
- American Bar Association, Insider TIPS, "The National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Model Insurance Data Security Model Law," January 24, 2022, podcast. https://bit.ly/32F7d2Q
- BankersWeb, "Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL): How to Prepare Now," January 11, 2022, webinar. https://www.bankersweb.com/cecl-how-to-prepare-now.html
- The M&A Advisor, 2021 Future of Dealmaking Summit, Panel Discussion, "Examining Today’s M&A Market: A Record-Breaking Frenzy of M&A Activity," November 17, 2021, New York, NY.
- Chicago Bar Association, Business Divorce and Complex Ownership Disputes Committee, "People, Procedures & Processes to Prevent or Mitigate a Business Divorce," co-presenter, November 9, 2021, webinar.
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, Constitutional Democracy Project, 2021 Annual Conference for Teachers in Civics, Law & Government, "Should We Filibuster the Filibuster?" and "Does the Supreme Court Protect the Underrepresented?" October 29, 2021, Chicago, IL.
- CLM 2021 Focus, Management Liability—Session 3, “The ABCs of SPACs and the Relevant Exposures,” co-presenter, October 20, 2021, Chicago, IL.
- ProVisors, Chicago Mergers & Acquisitions Affinity Group Meeting, “Alternative Deal Structures—Achieving Strategic Goals Without Buying a Company,” co-presenter, October 20, 2021, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, "COVID-19 Business Interruption Update," October 6, 2021, webinar.
- Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals, Annual Conference, "California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), October 5, 2021, webinar.
- Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals, Annual Conference, “Are You Up to Speed? Making Ethical Decisions in this Ever-Changing World of Insurance,” October 3, 2021, webinar.
- CareerLearning, "New CFPB Debt Collection Final Rule: What Banks and Credit Unions Need to Know," September 27, 2021, webinar.
- CareerLearning, BREAKING: SCOTUS Ends Eviction Moratorium, "Implications for Your Financial Institutions," September 9, 2021, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, Insurance Law Committee, "Developments in Insurance at the NAIC Meetings and COVID/BI Update," September 1, 2021, webinar.
- American Bar Association, TIPS’ Insurance Regulation Committee, "The New York Department of Financial Services Cybersecurity Regulations, Part 2," August 23, 2021, podcast. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/tort_trial_insurance_practice/resources/insider_tips/part-two/
- West/Thomson Reuters, "Annuities 101: Understanding the Basics," August 2, 2021, webinar.
- North Shore General Counsel Association, "The Supreme Court: A Look Back and a Look Ahead—October Term 2020 and October Term 2021," July 28, 2021, webinar.
- BankersWeb, "How to Prepare for the Foreclosure Moratorium to End on July 31," July 16 & July 28, 2021, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, "Become an Arbitrator in the Law Division Mandatory Arbitration Program," July 22, 2021, webinar.
- Brian Tierney’s The Blessed Life University Podcast, "BLU Podcast #4—Featuring Dan Cotter, Attorney at Law," July 14, 2021, podcast. https://youtu.be/4YjDkoY8rsA
- WGN Radio 720, Legal Face-Off, "Allred on Cosby, Cokley on Britney Spears Conservatorship, Montoya and Silva on Surfside, Wermiel and Huq on SCOTUS, and Much More," July, 12, 2021, podcast. https://bit.ly/36BpJaG
- American Bar Association, TIPS’ Insurance Regulation Committee, "The New York Department of Financial Services Cybersecurity Regulations," June 28, 2021, podcast. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/tort_trial_insurance_practice/resources/insider_tips/part-one/
- Be That Lawyer with Fretzin, "The Keys to Networking and Driving Customer Service," June 28, 2021, podcast. https://fretzin.com/dan-cotter-the-keys-to-networking-and-driving-customer-service/
- ProVisors, Chicago Mergers & Acquisitions Affinity Group Meeting, "Cyber Security and M&A," June, 16, 2021, webinar.
- Monmouth College, 2021 Golden Scots Celebration, "The Seventeen Men at the Center Seat, Their Courts, and Their Times," June 4, 2021, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, Sports Law Committee, "Sports Law in the Supreme Court: Review of Recent Cases," May 20, 2021, webinar.
- The Rossdale Group, Judgment Collection, Asset Recovery, and Bankruptcy CLE Seminar, "Effect of Lifting of Foreclosure Moratoriums, Handling Claims involving Mortgages, Loans, and Tenants, Key Tools for Records Searches - Insight from the Experts, Effectively Limiting Litigation and Claims from Debtors," May 12, 2021, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, Insurance Law Committee, "Recent Developments in Insurance and Responses to COVID—BI/Health/Liability," May 5, 2021, webinar.
- Lawyers for the Creative Arts, "Curtains Up! Assessing and Mitigating Risk," April 29, 2021, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, Insurance Law Committee, "Prejudgment Interest Rule and Impact On Insurance," April 7, 2021, webinar.
- BankersWeb, "New CFPB Debt Collection Rules—What Banks and Credit Unions Need to Know," April 2, 2021, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, Mediation Simulation Workshop, "Improve Your Skills in Mock Mediations," April 1, 2021, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, Civil Practice Committee, Panel Discussion, "BIPA Litigation," March 9, 2021, webinar.
- BankersWeb, "How to Analyze Financial Statements—What You Need to Know," February 12, 2021, webinar.
- BankersWeb, "What Financial Institutions Can Expect From 2021 Federal Government Changes," February 5, 2021, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, Insurance Law Committee, "The Biometric Info Privacy Act (BIPA) and Related Insurance Coverage Issues Under Illinois Law, and Other Various Insurance Coverage Issues," January 6, 2021, webinar.
- Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals, 2020 Virtual Compliance Checkup, "Ecommerce (General)" and "Complaints 101 (P&C)," December 17 & 18, 2020, webinar.
- Justinian Society of Lawyers, "The Supreme Court: The Changing Court and Self-Evident Truths, a Look Back and Forward," December 16, 2020, webinar.
- Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals, 2020 Virtual Compliance Checkup, "Are You up to Speed? Making Ethical Decisions in This Ever-Changing World of Insurance" and "Oh Canada—How is Your Regulatory Climate?" December 15 & 16, 2020, webinar.
- The 1958 Lawyer Podcast, "Cyber-Insurance, Legal Tech, and the Chief Justices," December 1, 2020, podcast. https://the-1958-lawyer.simplecast.com/episodes/daniel-a-cotter
- Chicago Bar Association, Cyber Law and Data Privacy Committee, "The CCPA and Other Developments in California Privacy Law," November 17, 2020, webinar.
- Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Constitutional Democracy Project, 2020 Annual Conference for Teachers in Civics, "The Supreme Court: The Changing Court and Self-Evident Truths, a Look Back and Forward" and "The Constitution: The (Continuing) Miracle at Philadelphia," October 23, 2020, webinar.
- LawPracticeCLE, "What Lawyers Need to Know About Financial Statements," October 12, 2020, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, "The Opioid Epidemic (and Other Drugs) and Insurance: Impact on Insurance," October 7, 2020, webinar.
- ApexCLE, "The Supreme Court October 2019 Term: A Pandemic Year," October 7, 2020, webinar. https://www.apexcle.com/courses/516
- ApexCLE, "Navigating a Pandemic: Advising Clients on Business Interruption Insurance Coverage for COVID-19 Claims," September 25, 2020, webinar. https://www.apexcle.com/courses/511
- LawPracticeCLE, "Piercing the Shield: Schrems II and the Elimination of the EU Privacy Shield," September 10, 2020, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, "Pandemic Part 5: Where Do We COVID From Here? Insurance Issues Update," September 2, 2020, webinar.
- American Bar Association, "Privacy and Cybersecurity in the Age of COVID," August 24, 2020, webinar.
- Association of Insurance Professionals, "COVID-19: How Industry Groups View the Current and Future Impact on Insurance," August 21, 2020, webinar. https://www.aicp.net/membership/081920-COVID19.mp3
- UIC John Marshall Law School, "Dean's Summer Associate Training Academy: Settlement Agreements," June 19, 2020, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Foundation, Justice Entrepreneurs Project, "Insurance 101: The COVID-19 Pandemic, Business Interruption and Other Coverages: What JEP Lawyers and Their Clients Should Know," June 18, 2020, webinar.
- National Conference of Bar Presidents, "21st Century Virtual Town Hall: Metro Bars and the Challenges in a Post-Coronavirus Normal," June 18, 2020, webinar.
- Smart Business Dealmakers, "Episode 37: Daniel Cotter, Attorney with Howard & Howard, Chicago," June 10, 2020, podcast. https://www.smartbusinessdealmakers.com/podcast/#cotter
- State Bar of Nevada, "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Business Interruption Litigation: What Lawyers and Their Clients Should Know," June 5, 2020, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Insurance Part 4," June 3, 2020, webinar.
- LawPracticeCLE, "Attorneys and Privacy: Obligations Under Professional Responsibility and Model Rules of Professional Conduct," June 3, 2020, webinar.
- The Rossdale Group, "Suing and Defending COVID-19 Breach and Liability Claims," May 20, 2020, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Insurance Part 3: An Update on Business Interruption and a Visit with Workers' Compensation and Other Coverage," May 7, 2020, webinar.
- LawPracticeCLE, "Supervisor Liability: When Can Managers and Supervisors Be Held Liable?" and "Judgment Enforcement 101," May 4, 2020, webinar.
- National Academy of Continuing Legal Education, "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Business Interruption: The Developing Rough Coverage Storm Ahead," April 21, 2020, webinar.
- Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Business Interruption: The Developing Coverage Storm Brewing," April 16, 2020, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, "Pandemic, Part 2: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Business Interruption: What Lawyers and Their Clients Should Know" and "Minority Shareholder Oppression Issues: The Current State of Affairs in Illinois," April 1 & 13, 2020, webinar.
- LawPracticeCLE, "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Business Interruption: What Lawyers and Their Clients Should Know," March 24, 2020, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, "Pandemics and Insurance—Workers Compensation Issues and Business Interruption," March 4, 2020, Chicago, IL.
- Chicago Bar Association, "Liability Insurance 101: Understanding What Is Covered," February 6, 2020, Chicago, IL.
- Union League of Chicago, "The Chief Justices: The Seventeen Men at the Center Seat, Their Courts, and Their Times," January 22, 2020, Chicago, IL.
- MyLawCLE, "What Attorneys Need to Know about Employee vs. Independent Contractor Status after California’s New Law" and "Judgement Enforcement 101," December 16, 2019, webinar.
- BankersWeb, "Recent Changes in Cyber, Privacy, and Data Security," December 3, 2019, webinar.
- BankersWeb, "Negotiating Terms and Controlling Risks in Third Party Contracts," November 7, 2019, webinar.
- CBA Insurance Law Committee, "Recreational Marijuana and Insurance Issues Raised," November 6, 2019, Chicago, IL.
- JVP Insurance Forum, "Insurance Business Transfers in Illinois," November 5, 2019, Chicago, IL.
- BankersWeb, "How to Read an Insurance Policy for Financial Institutions" and "Learn How the Supreme Court Action Affects Your Website," October 29 & 31, 2019, webinar.
- Celesq CLE, "Corporate Governance and Board Interaction," October 7, 2019, webinar.
- Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals, 32nd Annual Conference, "What Gets Regulated? Part 1" and "How to Be on Your Best Behavior: Market Conduct–Perspective and Best Practices," September 21 & 24, 2019, Denver, CO.
- MyLawCLE, "Supervisor Liability: When Can Managers and Supervisors Be Held Liable?" and "What Lawyers Need to Know about Financial Statements: Understanding How Financial Statements Interact with Business and Legal Issues," September 11, 2019, webinar.
- CBA Insurance Law Committee, "Insurance Division Laws and Insurance Business Transfer Laws," September 4, 2019, Chicago, IL.
- BankersWeb, "Website Disclosures: Minimizing Risk in an Online Market," August 6, 2019, webinar.
- MyLawCLE, "Attorneys and Privacy: Obligations Under Professional Responsibility and Model Rules of Professional Conduct," July 30, 2019, webinar.
- Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, 2019 Supreme Court Summer Institute, "A Little Respect Please: Future of Stare Decisis" and "The Court's Composition and its Impact on Decisions," July 16, 2019, Chicago, IL.
- ApexCLE, "The Supreme Court of the United States," July 3, 2019, Des Plaines, IL.
- Celesq/Thomson Reuters, "The Chief Justices," July 2, 2019, webinar.
- American Institute of Certified Planners, Great Lakes Chapter, "NY Regulation 187—Suitability," June 25, 2019, Madison, WI.
- CommercialLawWebAdvisor, "Understanding Financial Statements for Lawyers," March 28, 2019, webinar.
- Chicago Bar Association, Business Divorce and Complex Business Disputes Committee, "Buy-Sell Agreements: Effectively Drafting and Enforcing Them in the Context of the Business Divorce," February 11, 2019, Chicago, IL.
Community
Community“I support Lawyers Lend-A-Hand because of the great work it does for youth in at-risk communities.”
In 2002 I started a fundraiser, Lifting to Lend-A-Hand, to support tutoring and mentoring. In 2019, after a five-year hiatus, I returned to it. To date, I have personally raised more than $350,000 for tutoring and education. In addition to Lend-A-Hand, I have been very involved in bar associations.