In March of this year, Catholic Law alumnus Dan Kane ’15 launched his new firm, The Law Office of Daniel T. Kane, PLLC, to provide greater access to counsel for startups and small businesses in New York State and across the country. The firm views the attorney-client relationship as a partnership, one aimed at collaborating with entrepreneurs, innovators, and corporate leaders on their goals, their challenges, and on overcoming any legal barriers. The firm provides affordable counsel on SBA lending, government contracts, intellectual property (e.g. patents, trademarks), and Federal programs as well as on corporate formation, commercial contracts, state-specific programs, and general advice for New York-based clients.

As the country continues to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kane’s practice has shifted heavily toward SBA lending and other programs as businesses of all sizes and across all industries react to the pandemic. Since the passage of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the firm has been helping clients navigate the ever-evolving Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) requirements and apply for other federal financial assistance such as Economic Injury Disaster Loans. This trend will only continue as businesses with PPP loans begin applying for loan forgiveness and SBA begins auditing loan recipients for size, affiliations, sources of liquidity, and other programmatic disqualifications.

Reflecting on the experience, Kane shared, “CUA Law instills a sense of public good in each of its students, whether for private practice or for government service. My law firm's mission––to provide greater access to counsel for entrepreneurs, innovators, and other business owners––derives from that common purpose. Small business ownership can enable someone to overcome adversity, to climb social strata, or to simply provide for his, her, or their family. Yet, too often, these individuals are forced to proceed without legal counsel because of prohibitive costs or lack of access in their community. With my firm, I aim to change that.”