Daniel J. O'Connor

Daniel J. O’Connor focuses his legal practice on helping individuals, families, and business owners build strong legal foundations before problems arise. His work emphasizes thoughtful planning, clear communication, and durable solutions designed to protect what clients are working toward and help ensure it can be passed on to the next generation.

As a husband and father, Daniel understands that most people are not just managing assets. They are building lives, families, and legacies. Like many of his clients, he works hard to model a strong work ethic, provide stability and opportunity for his children, and preserve both financial security and shared values. Those priorities shape how he practices law and how he advises his clients.

Throughout his career, Daniel has seen how the absence of planning can undermine even the best intentions. Without the right structure in place, families can lose wealth, businesses can fracture, and relationships can suffer. His mission is to help clients avoid those outcomes by educating them, identifying risks early, and implementing practical plans that align with their goals. In short, he helps clients plan wisely, protect what they are building, and pass it on with confidence.

Daniel places a strong emphasis on education and long-term relationships rather than one-time transactions. He believes that good planning is not about documents alone, but about helping clients understand how the pieces fit together. That philosophy guides his work in estate planning, real estate transactions, and business formation and transfers, where careful planning can prevent disputes and preserve value over time.

Early in his career, Daniel practiced as a generalist, handling a wide range of matters both in and out of court. Over time, he recognized that strong outcomes require focus and depth. Buildings fail without proper design, and legal plans are no different. Rather than trying to do everything, he chose to concentrate his practice on areas where he could develop meaningful expertise and provide consistent, high-quality counsel. That decision was shaped by seeing the unnecessary cost, stress, and disruption clients often face when planning is delayed or handled without experienced guidance.

Daniel believes that investing in a solid legal foundation pays dividends in peace of mind, efficiency, and stability. With the right plan and trusted advisors, clients can spend less time reacting to problems and more time building businesses, supporting families, and enjoying life.

Daniel joined the firm in 2012 and partnered with Macky Bryant in 2017 to form Bryant & O’Connor Law Office. In 2021, he became the sole owner of the firm and sharpened its focus on helping families and small business owners plan for the future through estate planning, real estate, and business planning.

Born and raised in Montgomery County, Georgia, Daniel is proud to practice law in the Vidalia area. He has long believed that rural communities deserve the same level of professional service and leadership as larger markets. In addition to his private practice, he serves as City Attorney for the City of Vidalia and other local municipalities, and he represents multiple boards of education and a development authority. He views this work as part of a broader commitment to building strong communities, supporting responsible growth, and helping local institutions succeed.

Daniel earned his Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law in 2012, where he served on Law Review, and his Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Georgia in 2009. He is licensed to practice law in all Georgia state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia’s 2020–2021 class, as well as the Leadership Toombs-Montgomery County program.

Outside the office, Daniel is a devoted husband to his wife, Rizza, and a proud father to Judson and Evie. He is an active member of Vidalia Cornerstone Church and has served as President of the Vidalia Kiwanis Club. He enjoys studying the Bible, reading history and personal development books, following college football, spending time outdoors with his family, and sharing good food and drink with family and friends.