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DJM-white-background-headshot-4000x4000-removebg-preview

David J. Morris

David Morris is a capital partner and Chair of the Corporate & Securities Group. David practices in the areas of corporate and securities, corporate finance and investment management.

David concentrates his practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, fund formation, securities, banking and finance, trading and commodities law, emerging growth companies and general corporate matters. He also serves as outside general counsel to start-up, emerging growth and middle market companies in a wide variety of industries.

David has significant experience in the investment management, proprietary trading and commodities law areas and represents private investment funds (hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds and real estate funds), broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, commodity pool operators, commodity trading advisors, and other investment management and proprietary trading industry participants.

Additionally, David has extensive experience in bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy workouts and restructurings. In this capacity, he represents buyers and sellers of distressed assets and counsels operating companies with respect to insolvency matters, reorganizations and assignments for the benefit of creditors. He also represents investment funds, bankruptcy trustees and other parties in connection with restructurings, asset monetization and liquidations.

David is active in the Association for Corporate Growth, the Economic Club of Chicago, Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) Chicago, and the Anti-Defamation League’s Greater Chicago/Upper Midwest Board.  He previously served as an Adjunct Professor in the Entrepreneurship Law Center at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.  Before joining Fox Swibel, David was general counsel and managing director of a private equity, investment banking and proprietary trading firm where he was responsible for structuring, negotiating and documenting a broad range of transactions.  Prior to entering private practice, he worked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.

  • Represented investment management firm in numerous acquisitions and in sale to strategic buyer.
  • Represented private equity-backed manufacturer of private labels for consumers goods in numerous acquisitions and execution of roll-up strategy.
  • Represented natural foods company in numerous capital raises, accretive acquisition and sale to Fortune 100 strategic buyer.
  • Represented insurance brokerage firm in sale into private equity-backed roll-up.
  • Represented private equity firm in acquisition of engineering and infrastructure company.
  • Represented temporary staffing firm in roll-up acquisitions and sale to private equity fund.
  • Represented Internet media firm in sale to Internet media conglomerate.
  • Represented family office in investment in casino property.
  • Represented private equity firm in sale of environmental services company.
  • Represented capital markets intelligence business in sale to private equity firm.
  • Represented wealth management firm in sale into private equity-backed roll-up.
  • Represented private equity firm in investment in media company.
  • Represented strategic buyer in acquisition of proprietary trading firm.
  • Represented financial news service provider in sale to international stock exchange.
  • Represented private-equity backed endurance race and events business in strategic investments, joint ventures and sale to private equity-backed strategic buyer.
  • Represented investment management firm in capital raise from two private equity funds.
  • Represented independent sponsor in acquisition of offshore staffing firm.
  • Represented inbound call center in health care industry in sale to strategic buyer.
  • Represented investment group in acquisition of 25-restaurant chain and franchisor.
  • Represented private equity firm in investment in special servicer.
  • Represented private investment group in investment in specialty automotive manufacturing business.
  • Represented software company in sale to private equity fund.
  • Represented promotional products business in sale to private equity firm.
  • Represented outsourced accounting firm in sale to strategic buyer.
  • Represented management team in management buyout of precision machining company.
  • Represented private investment firm in investment in luxury fashion business.
  • Represented health benefits advisory firm in sale to strategic buyer.
  • Represented private investment group in acquisition of furniture manufacturing business.
  • Represented insurance brokerage firm in strategic acquisition.
  • Represented independent sponsor in acquisition of specialty manufacturing business.
  • Represented commercial printing business in sale to strategic buyer.
  • Represented custom auto chassis business in sale to strategic buyer.
  • Represented consulting and advisory firm in strategic acquisition.
  • Represented real estate development firm in joint venture involving capitalization and development of series or restaurants.
  • Represented operator of youth soccer and lacrosse training and events business in sale to strategic buyer.
  • Represented proprietary trading firm in sale to strategic buyer.
  • Represented online travel business in sale to strategic buyer.
  • Represented family offices in numerous private equity and venture capital investments.
  • Represented investors and issuers in a wide variety of industries in capital raises via private placements of securities.
  • Represented private fund managers in numerous fund formations (hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds and venture capital funds).

David has been named a Leading Lawyer in closely & privately held business law, mergers & acquisitions law, and securities & venture finance law by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company. Only lawyers who are most often recommended by their peers in the statewide surveys are included in Leading Lawyers Magazine.

In addition, since 2022, David has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Corporate Law.

Recent Publications

Best Lawyers in America© 2025

Fox Swibel is proud to announce nineteen attorneys have been named in the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, the oldest, most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, accounting for over a third of our attorneys. Please join us ...
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Expansion of the Corporate Transparency Act Enhances Reporting Requirements

By David J. Morris Updated 12/11/2023 Enacted into federal law in January of 2021, the Corporate Transparency Act ("CTA") established information reporting requirements for reporting companies. Reporting companies include (1) corporations, limited liability companies ("LLC's") or other entities created through ...
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Best Lawyers in America© 2024

Fox Swibel is proud to announce twenty-one attorneys have been named in the 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, the oldest, most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, accounting for over a third of our attorneys. Please ...
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Legislation Clarifies Federal Exemption for M&A Brokers

Image Source - Shutterstock While M&A brokers previously faced uncertainty with respect to federal broker-dealer registration requirements, a new statute provides a clear and unambiguous exemption based on specified, limited activities.  M&A brokers received an unanticipated but welcome surprise in ...
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SEC Adopts Series of Modernizing Amendments to Definition of “Accredited Investors”

  Image Source - Shutterstock On August 26, 2020 the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted certain amendments (the “Amendments”) to the definition of an “accredited investor” as defined by Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933 (the ...
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Main Street Lending Program: Federal Reserve, Treasury Department Create New Lending Facility, Release Updated Program Terms and FAQ’s

Main Street Lending Program: Federal Reserve, Treasury Department Create New Lending Facility, Release Updated Program Terms and FAQ’s May 21, 2020   Image Source - Shutterstock This Client Alert relating to the Main Street Lending Program (the “MSLP”) has been ...
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SBA, Treasury Department Warn Businesses to Carefully Consider Whether PPP Loan is Necessary

Image Source - Shutterstock On April 23, 2020, the Treasury Department, in collaboration with the Small Business Administration (the “SBA”), released guidance in the form of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).  The potentially most significant aspect of the FAQ’s is the ...
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Main Street Lending Program: Federal Reserve, Treasury Department Take Action to Combat COVID-19

Image Source - Shutterstock Pursuant to its mandate from Congress to promote maximum employment, stable prices and market stability, the Federal Reserve announced on April 9, 2020, that it is taking measures to provide up to $2.3 trillion to further ...
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CARES Act: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Click to Go to Answer: When can my business submit an application for an SBA 7(a) loan from the Paycheck Protection Program? For purposes of calculating "payroll costs," should a business include compensation paid to independent contractors? Is a portfolio ...
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Summary of Legislation and Rulemaking Impacting Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19

Summary of Legislation and Rulemaking Impacting Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19 Apr 1, 2020 Image Source - Shutterstock The impact of COVID-19 has affected everyone in the United States.  In response to the widespread economic consequences suffered by small businesses ...
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Summary of Federal, State of Illinois and City of Chicago Grant and Loan Programs to Assist Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19

Summary of Federal, State of Illinois and City of Chicago Grant and Loan Programs to Assist Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19 Mar 31, 2020   Image Source - Shutterstock Businesses around the world are facing significant adverse consequences due to ...
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