William J. Daly

Bill is an experienced and entrepreneurial-minded corporate attorney.

He counsels clients ranging from startups, financial institutions, and well established multi-million-dollar companies in a variety of business needs including transactional and business law, finance, securities, sales and acquisitions of businesses, business contracts and general corporate governance.

Prior to joining Fredrikson, Bill began his practice at two large national law firms in Chicago and then spent more than a decade at a prominent Iowa firm. There, he served in numerous leadership roles, including Co-Chair of the Startup and Innovators group, Chair of the Securities and Equity Finance group and a member of the firm’s recruiting committee.

Start-Up & Entrepreneur Law

• Represents new companies in all stages, ranging from initial formation through mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and divestitures.

Equity Finance and Securities Law

• Represents clients in securities offerings and securities compliance issues.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Represents clients in the purchase and sale of companies, including asset, stock and merger-based transactions.

Banking and Financial Institutions Matters

• Represents financial institutions in corporate governance and acquisition matters.

General Corporate and Corporate Governance

• Represents companies in all aspects of corporate matters, including board and shareholder governance matters.

Outside General Counsel & General Contract Review

• Prepares, negotiates and reviews all forms of business contracts for clients

Education

• The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, M.B.A., 2009
• University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., 2009
• University of Northern Iowa, B.A., 2005, with high distinction

Admissions

• Iowa, 2012
• Illinois, 2010

• Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Mergers & Acquisitions, 2021 and 2025
• Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Banking & Finance, 2020 and 2025
• Best Lawyers® Best Lawyers in America, Banking & Finance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisition Law, and Venture Capital Law, 2025
• 40 Under 40 Honoree, Corridor Business Journal, 2016
• Great Plains Super Lawyers, Business & Corporate Law, 2024
• Great Plains Super Lawyers Rising Star, Business & Corporate Law, 2014-2022

Professional Activities

• Iowa State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Member of Business Law Section
• Linn County Bar Association

Community

• Technology Association of Iowa, Chair – Startup Roundtable, 2019-2021; Eastern Iowa Connectivity Committee Member, Public Policy Committee member
• Iowa Startup Accelerator, Mentor-in-residence, 2014-2017
• New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, Board of Directors, 2014-present
• Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, Board of Directors, 2013-2021
• United Way of East Central Iowa, Educational Solutions Team Member, 2012-2018
• Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, Volunteer
• Iowa Legal Aid, Volunteer
• Iowa Economic Development – Member of State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Review Committee – 2023-Present