American Lawyer Profile of John Daniels Spotlights Impact of His “Everybody Counts Every Day” Philosophy
With Quarles Chair Emeritus John Daniels set to be honored this week as a 2026 American Lawyer Lifetime Achievement Award winner, the outlet published an article highlighting the impact Daniels has had on the legal industry and his communities throughout his career.
The profile outlines his journey from Harvard Law School back to Milwaukee, where he became the first Black attorney at Quarles, to his tenure leading the firm through the country’s financial crisis in 2008. It also covers his contributions through organizations such as the MKE Fellows and Black Health Directors Equity Agenda.
An excerpt:
What followed for Daniels—a 2026 American Lawyer Lifetime Achievement honoree—was a legal career and community-focused life that broke barriers, paid it forward and left an indelible mark on the legal community and the city of Milwaukee.
After graduating from Harvard Law, he became the first African American attorney at Quarles & Brady in 1974. In 2007, he became chair, leading the firm through the Great Recession and overseeing a strong period of growth before stepping down in 2013. Then he served as president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, doing so from the 40th largest metro area in the United States.
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“Everybody counts, every day.” It’s a phrase those who know Daniels well have heard before, and an ethos he carried through leadership and community endeavors.
“When I became chair, I was just expressing what I believed,” he said of the slogan. “It is who I am. To me, the ability to broaden things for everyone is really important. You don’t know who will cause something to happen in the world if you don’t give them a chance to pursue it.”