A seasoned trial attorney, DaWanna brings a confident courtroom presence, practical judgment, and disciplined advocacy to every matter she handles. She has led high-stakes disputes nationwide across complex civil litigation, class actions, arbitrations, and government investigations—often for highly regulated clients in the financial services and technology sectors—guiding them from early case strategy through final disposition with a steady focus on the issues that truly drive outcomes.

Preparation and clarity are central to her approach. DaWanna has a reputation for working patiently through dense factual records and regulatory frameworks, separating signal from noise and distilling complicated issues into arguments that judges, arbitrators, and juries can easily grasp. Clients value her steady judgment in moments when litigation becomes unpredictable, when strategy, risk, and timing must all be weighed at once.

DaWanna’s perspective is shaped by substantial pre-trial and courtroom experience. She has participated in multiple trials, delivering opening and closing arguments and examining key witnesses. She also served as a Deputy Special Prosecutor in the nationally watched prosecution of actor Jussie Smollett. Her practice includes extensive deposition work, including expert and corporate representative examinations, as well as dispositive motion practice and evidentiary hearings.

Outside the courtroom, DaWanna is drawn to the kinds of stories that begin with a mystery and end with an explanation. She’s an avid watcher of “true crime” shows, fascinated by the slow unraveling of facts and the investigative process behind real cases (though she readily admits she’s far less brave when it comes to scary movies). Travel offers a different kind of intrigue. One of her favorite memories is a trip to Maui, where she snorkeled in brilliantly blue waters and explored the ocean’s depths by submarine. On quieter days, she prefers simpler pleasures: long walks with her dog, time to clear her head, and the anticipation of discovering a new city or restaurant just down the road.

Education

University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude (2016)
Spellman College, B.A. (2013)