Dillon M. White

Head of Business Development, Attorney

Minneapolis

612-672-3647

dwhite@messerlikramer.com

Profile

Dillon White is a constitutional law scholar, First Amendment attorney, and the Head of Business Development at Messerli Kramer, where he oversees client interactions and drives firm growth. While he works closely with each practice group in both the Minneapolis and St. Paul offices, he differentiates his role from that of other firms by focusing on the particularized strategies of clients. Dillon meets regularly with businesses and individuals in Messerli Kramer’s legal portfolio and tries to learn their needs, situations, and aspirations, so that he can spot opportunities within both his and the firm’s network to drive client success.

Dillon also partners with firms all over the country on a variety of cases and litigation files, and he is a frequent expert witness in a number of areas. He has a deep background in employment law, personal injury, discrimination, advertising and media law, and Title IX, and he started his career representing victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment across a variety of institutional organizations and governmental entities.

Dillon’s approach to law is the same as his approach to business development — let the client guide the approach, rather than the other way around. He strives to meet both his clients and his coworkers where they’re at, a byproduct of not only his legal background, but also his educational one, serving as a constitutional law professor with a focus in the First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment, Sixth Amendment, and the Fourteenth Amendment.

Dillon is also a regular guest on local and national outlets for his opinions on the law as it relates to current events, primarily due to his status on social media. With a following of nearly 5 million people across platforms, Dillon is more commonly known as dadchats on TikTok and by dillonmichaelwhite on Instagram.

Publications and Presentations

Publications 

  • Co-Author, “Understanding Minnesota’s Big Law Wave,” Bench & Bar, May 2024
  • Co-Author, “What the FTC’s Non-Compete Final Rule Means for Businesses,” March 2024
  • Co-Author, “Navigating the Corporate Transparency Act,” January 2024
  • Co-Author, “Minnesota’s Legislative Updates, Explained,” August 2023
  • Co-Author, “Contract Law in Franchise Operations,” October 2021
  • Contributing Author, “Advertising and Commercial Speech: A First Amendment Guide,” 2016

Presentations 

  • Presenter, “The Power of Storytelling in Growing a Business or Brand,” Minnesota Young Professionals, May 2024
  • Guest, Fox 9 Good Day Morning Show, May 2024
  • Guest, “So…Is TikTok Banned?” Slate Magazine, April 2024
  • Guest, “The Problem with the TikTok Ban,” Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), March 2024
  • Guest, Fox 9 Good Day Morning Show, February 2024
  • Guest, Yahoo News, February 2024
  • Guest, The Today Show, February 2024
  • Presenter, “The State of Free Speech on College Campuses,” WORT Radio, January 2024
  • Guest, Newsweek, October 2023
  • Guest, The Independent, August 2023
Professional and Community

Admissions 

  • Minnesota

Community 

  • Board of Directors, Member, Best Christmas Ever
  • Board of Directors, Member, Twin Cities Film Festival
  • Head Coach, Speech and Debate, 2013 – 2023
    • 8-time National Championship winning coach