Bio

After 45 years as a very active attorney, Danielle Burns (admitted as Joseph M. Burns) is Of Counsel to the firm.  

Danielle remains available whenever needed and will continue to provide clients and colleagues with the deep background and resources that she developed over 45 years. In addition to being a resource to the firm, having publicly identified as transgender in late 2024, Danielle is focused on transgender advocacy and is the current Secretary of the Chicago Gender Society.

Danielle’s lifelong commitment to the labor and employee benefit communities continues undiminished in her Of Counsel role.  Danielle is a proud third-generation member of ATU Local 308, having worked for the CTA while in college.  Danielle’s father, Marty, began as an attorney for Jacobs & Gore in April 1960.  Danielle’s nephew Charlie is an attorney at JBOH, and the family commitment to our clients knows no bounds. Our clients are our family, too, and Danielle pledges never to forget that family.   

Danielle is especially proud to have served ATU Locals, IATSE Locals, and  PDC 30,   and as Fund Counsel to public pension and pension investment funds, including funds in Chicago, Illinois/Missouri, Indiana, and Alabama.   

As counsel to ERISA employee benefit funds for 45 years, Danielle is especially proud that the firm is the sole counsel to every ERISA jointly trusteed fund client because the employer trustees respect the firm’s independent judgment.

Danielle has a Martindale Hubbell peer rating of AV and in 2009 was the first member of the firm elected a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.  In 2009, she was designated by Illinois Super Lawyers as one of the top attorneys in labor and employment law, and she was named the 2019 Lawyer of the Year in Chicago, Labor Law Union.

Danielle is a past Board member of Global Alliance for Africa (GAA) and has traveled frequently to East Africa to assist with GAA’s projects dealing with micro-enterprise programs and to support families affected by HIV/AIDS.  Danielle organized and led two groups of judges, lawyers, and medical professionals on trips to East Africa to explore micro-finance, legal rights, and therapeutic arts programs.  Danielle is also a past Board Member of the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision in Wheaton. Danielle is also an advisor to the Chicago Maritime Museum.

Danielle has been married to Penny, her best friend and high school sweetheart, since 1976 and has three exceptional children and four awesome grandchildren.  Danielle and Penny live in Antioch Township in Lake County.

Education

• A.B., Loyola University, 1976

• J.D., Loyola University School of Law, 1979