Daniel Canales

Daniel O. Canales represents employers in labor and employment, restrictive covenant, and commercial matters across state and federal courts, arbitration panels, and administrative agencies throughout the United States. His clients range from small businesses to multinational conglomerates across industries including retail, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, distribution, energy, banking, trading, and private equity. Dan brings both courtroom experience and a practical business perspective to his practice, having advised clients on human resources matters as a senior consultant in the Human Capital Practice of Deloitte prior to entering the legal profession.Dan has first-chaired jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations in cases involving wage and hour collective actions, discrimination and retaliation claims, breach of contract disputes, and workplace violence matters. He also has handled appeals in cases of first impression before the Seventh Circuit and Illinois appellate courts. His litigation practice spans the full spectrum of employment claims, including those arising under Title VII, the FMLA, the ADA, the ADEA, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and corresponding state and local laws.Beyond litigation, Dan counsels employers on restrictive covenants and trade secrets, regularly seeking and defending against temporary restraining orders and injunctions for his clients. He leads internal investigations into harassment, fraud, and workplace safety matters, advises on corporate reorganizations and reductions in force, negotiates collective bargaining agreements, and conducts wage and hour audits and compliance reviews. Dan also guides clients through labor and employment due diligence in acquisitions, including asset and stock purchase agreement negotiations and employee onboarding strategies, and prepares annual nationwide updates to employer handbooks, policies, and guidelines.