Dan Hardwick, Partner, Cozen O’Connor, 39
Job: I'm a commercial real estate attorney and joined Cozen two years ago to expand its real estate practice group into the DC market. I was lucky to find a great associate, Joe Eggleston, who joined me in the fall of 2014. Our clients range from local developers to publicly traded REITs, and we are involved in a variety of real estate transactions including purchases, sales, financings, joint ventures and leasing.
Community involvement: I am active in the John Carroll Society, having served for the past three years as the chairman of the Red Mass Committee, and I am now the chairman of the Membership Committee. I am also on the Development Committee for the Washington School for Girls and co-founded the Fathers of Daughters Club of DC.
Career highlights: Witnessing the growth of the Washington, DC, real estate market, including the purchase of the Westbard Avenue portfolio, construction financing on 51 Louisiana and The Louis at 14th and U, the sale of the Waterview Office building, and most recently, the purchase of the V Street industrial portfolio.
Why this career: For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be an attorney. At my first law firm in Chicago, I was originally slated to be in the general corporate practice group, but when the dot-com bubble burst in 2000 I was given the chance to work in real estate. It was a perfect fit and I have never looked back!
Where you grew up: Lansing, MI
Why DC: After living in Chicago for a few years after school, my wife and I decided to move to DC in 2004. We like the size, weather, history and, for us, DC is the perfect compromise between north and south (my wife is from Louisiana).
First job: Concessionist at an AMC movie theater in high school. Best job ever!
Family: Wife, Amy, and three daughters—Mary (7), Catherine (7) and Molly (5)
Free time: I enjoy spending time with family and friends, following Michigan State football and basketball, and playing golf.
10 years from now: I enjoy being a real estate attorney, so I hope to grow my practice and help my clients grow their businesses as well.
Favorite vacation spots: Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
Bucket list: Play golf at St. Andrews.
Daily habit: Make sure my girls are properly tucked in bed.
Startling fact: In 2011, I co-founded the Fathers of Daughters Club of DC, which was originally comprised of fathers who only have daughters. We hold two events a year—a guy’s night in the fall and a family picnic in the summer—and raise money for the Washington School for Girls. We've received letters of support from fathers of only daughters including Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush, and Speaker Boehner and Sen. Mark Warner.
