Dan Kaufman is a partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP where his practice focuses on higher education, employment law, and litigation. His clients include colleges and universities; businesses (from financial services to film studios); and non-profit organizations. Clients turn to Dan because he is a trusted advisor on myriad higher education, employment, and other issues, and is an outstanding litigator who handles cases (class actions, multi-plaintiff, and single plaintiff).
Clients rely on Dan because of his deep knowledge of higher education and employment law; exceptional judgment; strategic advice; and extraordinary client service. His expertise includes:
discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims;
medical leaves, disabilities, and accommodations;
hiring, disciplining, and terminating employees;
employment agreements;
non-compete, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements
litigation avoidance and strategy; and
addressing financial challenges.
Dan’s work is regularly honored by regional and national ranking organizations. He is recognized by Chambers USA as a Leading Labor & Employment Lawyer, holds an AV® (preeminent/highest) rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2012- Present), Midwest’s Best Lawyers (2021- Present), Illinois Super Lawyers (2006 – Present) and Chicago’s Top-Rated Lawyers (Chicago Tribune and Wall Street Journal).
Dan is passionate about service and currently serves on NACUA’s Board of Directors. As part of his more than 20 years of active membership in NACUA, Dan has been a speaker and moderator at Annual Conferences and CLE Workshops, and has been a speaker at Lawyers New to Higher Education Workshops. He also has served on the NACUA Program Committee, as Co-Chair of Working Groups, and on the CLE Committee. Dan also teaches Law & Ethics in Higher Education in Northwestern University’s Masters in Higher Education program. Dan’s public service includes serving as a Highland Park, IL City Councilperson (2011-21). The Judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association recognized Dan’s dedication to service with the “Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service” in 2010.
Dan has held various leadership roles at Michael Best, including helping to lead the firm’s Higher Education Group, previously serving on the firm’s Management Committee, as the Managing Partner of the Chicago Office, and as the Chair of the Labor & Employment Relations Group.
Dan received his B.A. from Amherst College and J.D. from the University of Chicago. Following law school, Dan was Law Clerk to the Honorable Charles L. Levin, Michigan Supreme Court, 1986 -87.