About Derek
Derek Haake built a rare combination of technical work and legal training. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2007. He then returned to school at the University of Akron, completing a J.D. in 2010 and an MBA in 2011.
His early career ran on technology and operations. In 2000 he worked as a business analyst at Alltel. He took on a chief technology officer role at NeuWorld Communications in 2004. The following year he helped start OptiCon Systems, Inc., serving as a co-founder and director. In 2010 he co-founded Campus Shift and served as CTO. Those positions tied product development to business strategy and gave him hands-on experience with startups and technical teams.
After finishing law school, Haake shifted toward legal work while keeping his business background intact. He was admitted to practice before the Missouri State Bar. That credential allowed him to combine practical business experience with legal training. He has navigated corporate structures, vendor relationships, and technology-driven projects from the perspective of both operator and lawyer.
In 2014 he founded Haake Law Office, LLC. He serves as the firm’s founder and lawyer. The office reflects his years spent in private enterprise and technology leadership. He draws on prior roles to advise clients on matters that touch both commercial strategy and operational detail. His approach tends to emphasize clear documentation and practical solutions rather than abstract positions.
Colleagues and clients have noted his ability to move between the technical and the legal. Conversations with engineers, investors, and in-house managers are familiar territory. He has experience explaining legal constraints in business terms and translating technical issues into contractual language.
Haake’s career path — from business analyst to CTO to attorney and firm founder — shapes how he practices law. He maintains an active law practice in Missouri and handles matters that arise where business and technology intersect.
