Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Lopez

Hi Daniel , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I am the son of Dominican and Cuban immigrants, born in New York and raised in Union City, NJ. As a kid, I fell in love with the New York Yankees. One of my earliest memories is Wade Boggs riding a police horse around Yankee Stadium after they won the 1996 World Series. From that moment, I knew I wanted to play baseball for the rest of my life. That passion carried me through high school, where I had the unique experience of attending both the final days of Union Hill High School and the inaugural years of Union City High School.

It was at Union City High School that my life truly began to take shape. Unfortunately, during this time, I lost my stepfather, who had been a father figure to me. It was the toughest period of my life. Thankfully, I had a support system of teachers, coaches, and mentors who helped me navigate the emotional and mental challenges. They ensured I stayed focused on my academic and athletic goals.

One of those mentors, Mr. Malizia, changed the course of my life. During my senior year, the school’s mock trial team won a competition and earned a spot in Washington, DC. Though I wasn’t part of the team, Mr. Malizia, who had been my teacher every year of high school, encouraged me to join. Despite my hesitation—since it was baseball season—he and Coach Benway convinced me to participate.

That decision was pivotal. It was the first time I saw a future beyond baseball. While I didn’t immediately pursue law, that experience planted the seed of becoming a lawyer if baseball didn’t work out. Years later, I would revisit that moment.

My baseball career continued at Rutgers-Newark, where I played Division 3 baseball, still chasing my dream of going pro. After four years of playing and one year of trying out for professional teams, I realized that dream had come to an end. That’s when I recalled my experience with the mock trial team and decided to apply to law school.

Eventually, I chose to attend the University of La Verne College of Law in California. it was a life-changing decision. I met Stevee, who is now my fiancée. She convinced me to adopt my now best friend and dog named Jeter.

After graduating, I began my legal career at Belgum, Fry, and Van Allen, a personal injury law firm. It was a great learning experience, but I quickly realized that personal injury law wasn’t for me. I wanted to do meaningful work with business owners, where I could contribute to their success and growth.

I started My Brand Esquire, a trademark law firm, with the goal of helping businesses protect their brands. Over time, I realized trademark law was just one piece of a larger puzzle. Eventually, My Brand Esquire evolved into Empire Business Law. Today, I’m proud to say we help business owners sleep better at night, whether they’re buying or selling businesses or navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.

I’m incredibly grateful for the people and experiences that have shaped my life. I’ve been fortunate to have a strong support system, and every challenge has ultimately been a stepping stone. Life has been an incredible journey so far, and I’m excited for what’s next.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

In anything worth doing, challenges are inevitable. Some of the struggles I faced were pretty common, like dealing with confidence issues. It wasn’t until my senior year of college that I truly began to feel confident in who I was and what I could contribute to the world.

Starting my law firm was another major challenge. I found it difficult to get clients, especially since I didn’t have many connections in the area and was transitioning from a different field of law. It felt like starting from scratch in unfamiliar territory.

However, my biggest struggle has always been looking too far ahead and feeling inadequate about where I am now. I used to think in terms of “when this happens” or compare where I want to be to my current situation. The problem with that mindset is it keeps you from appreciating how much progress you can make in the present. I’m slowly learning to live in the moment and enjoy the process, but as someone who’s always thinking ahead, it’s something I have to remind myself of daily.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Empire Business Law?

Empire Business Law is a business law firm dedicated to helping business owners sleep better at night. Our mission is to provide peace of mind by handling the legal aspects of running a business, allowing owners to focus on what they do best. A significant part of our practice is our Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) section, where we frequently collaborate with business brokers to assist clients in buying and selling businesses. Our role is to safeguard our clients throughout the process and ensure their interests are fully protected.

What truly sets Empire Business Law apart is our transparency and straightforward approach with clients. Legal matters don’t have to be complex or confusing. We believe that when clients understand what’s happening, they can make better, more informed decisions. Ultimately, we are here to serve you, and our goal is to empower you to make choices with confidence.

One of the things I’m most proud of is how often clients return to us for future work. Repeat business is the best testament to the trust and satisfaction we’ve built with our clients, and it’s something we value deeply.

Whether you’re a current business owner or someone aspiring to own a business, Empire Business Law is here to support you. We work with businesses at every stage, with the goal of helping owners not just succeed in business, but also thrive in their personal lives.

What’s next?

The future plans for Empire Business Law involve significant growth, particularly through aggressive hiring. Currently, we don’t offer certain services like employment law or litigation, but we’re fortunate to have trusted partners in those areas to refer our clients to. Ultimately, though, my vision is for Empire Business Law to become a one-stop shop for all of a business’s legal needs.

We’re also aiming to expand our presence on the East Coast. While no major changes are expected in the immediate future, our ongoing goal is to continuously improve and streamline the legal services we provide. We’re always learning, innovating, and seeking ways to enhance the client experience to better serve our clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://empirebusinesslawfirm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirebusinesslaw/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empirebusinesslaw
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/empirebusinesslaw
• Youtube: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2F%40EmpireBusinessLaw%3Ffbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZLsBDAFtEUAqx9Vn4Y4RRSTdAfhYj8TlE6fEJG57-XguTl9gJI4XPTSI8_aem_LBob-1JpTI5MRT8Sl65hrw&e=AT2M9uDTuseb4VU2eVNYPZDNnCdT3vOZCr2nASd8w5LTHyN2uAcAd_a6jFvpuHzuNXJ16gC4Br_98Kr7211R4EWcEI6XGLknqGKv_g