About Yao
Yao Dinizulu earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1994 after completing a B.S. at Florida A&M University in 1991. He moved from the academic setting into work that mixed private practice and corporate environments. The early academic record showed an interest in both law and the structures that govern business and public institutions.
His early career included a stint at Price Waterhouse, LLP in 1997. That period exposed him to large-organization processes and the kinds of compliance and transactional matters that often sit at the intersection of law and business. In 2000 he helped launch Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC as a founding partner. Building a firm from the ground up changed the daily rhythm of his work. He traded the predictability of a corporate office for the demands of client development, case oversight and office management.
In 2008 he became a shareholder at Dinizulu Law Group Ltd., a move that crystallized his role as a firm leader. Over the years he has carried responsibilities common to senior lawyers: supervising staff, counseling clients and managing the administrative side of a practice. He has experience guiding matters through negotiation and resolution, and he has been involved in the practical legal work that keeps a small firm operating.
Outside the office he has maintained close ties to his alma mater. He has served as president of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association’s Chicago Chapter. He also held regional posts within the alumni association, including Midwest regional officer and Midwest regional vice president. Those roles have kept him engaged in alumni affairs and community networking across the Midwest.
Colleagues describe a practitioner who understands both the business of law and the demands of client service. His path from a large professional services firm into private practice and then into firm leadership reflects a steady accumulation of practical skills. He remains licensed to practice in Illinois and has continued to work in the state since completing law school.
He currently practices at Dinizulu Law Group Ltd., representing individual and business clients in Illinois and handling a range of private practice matters.
