Greenberg Traurig Adds Labor & Employment Lawyer Daniel O. Canales in Chicago

CHICAGO - May 26, 2026 - Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has added Daniel O. Canales as a shareholder in the firm's Labor & Employment Practice in Chicago. He joins the firm from Duane Morris, where he was a partner.

Canales brings extensive experience representing employers across a broad range of labor, employment, restrictive covenant, trade secret, and commercial matters in state and federal courts, arbitration panels, and administrative agencies throughout the United States. He counsels and litigates on behalf of employers ranging from small businesses to multinational corporations across industries including retail, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, distribution, energy, banking, trading, and private equity.

"Dan is a talented and highly regarded employment lawyer who has built a strong reputation for delivering results for employers, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the team," Greenberg Traurig's Chicago office Co-Managing Shareholders Rita M. Powers and Meredith L. Katz said in a joint statement. "His addition strengthens our already-robust Labor & Employment Practice and reflects our continued commitment to growing our capabilities in Chicago and across the country."

Canales 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 employment litigation practice encompasses claims arising under Title VII, the FMLA, the ADA, the ADEA, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and corresponding state and local laws.

In addition to his employment litigation practice, Canales advises employers on commercial contract and partnership disputes, restrictive covenants, and trade secrets, regularly obtaining and defending against temporary restraining orders and injunctions. He has led internal investigations into harassment, fraud, and workplace safety matters; advised on corporate due diligence, reorganizations, mergers, and reductions in force; negotiated collective bargaining agreements, and conducted wage and hour audits and compliance reviews.

Canales served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where he taught employment law. Earlier in his career, he was a senior consultant in the Human Capital Practice of Deloitte.

"Greenberg Traurig's depth of resources, global platform, and reputation for cross-practice collaboration mirror my clients' needs," Canales said. "I look forward to continuing to serve employers facing their most complex legal challenges, and to do so alongside a team of talented lawyers who are driven by the same commitment to providing exceptional client service."

Canales received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he earned a Certificate in Labor and Employment Law, and his B.A. from Northwestern University, where he was an Evans Scholar.