Miller Johnson Welcomes Janelle Darnell and Michael Najjarpour to Chicago Office
CHICAGO, IL – June 3, 2026 – Miller Johnson is pleased to announce that attorneys Janelle Darnell and Michael Najjarpour have joined the firm’s Chicago office, further strengthening its corporate and employment law capabilities.
Janelle Darnell joins the firm’s Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions practice group as a Member, where she advises clients on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, joint ventures, restructurings, reorganizations, spin-offs, and divestitures. Her practice focuses on federal income tax matters related to complex transactions.
Prior to joining Miller Johnson, Darnell was a partner in the business tax group of an Am Law 200 firm and previously held roles in the national tax office of a Big Four accounting firm in Washington, D.C., where she focused on complex subchapter C issues, tax opinion drafting, legislative developments, and legislative developments.
Darnell earned her LL.M. in Taxation with honors from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2016. She earned her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2015 and earned her M.B.A. in Accountancy from San Diego State University in 2013. In 2008, she earned her B.A. in Political Science from California Polytechnic State University.
Michael Najjarpour joins the firm as a Counsel attorney in the Employment and Labor practice group, where he advises employers and plan sponsors on the design, compliance, and administration of employee benefit and executive compensation programs.
Najjarpour brings valuable insight into compliance, risk management, and strategic planning for organizations seeking to attract and retain top talent. Before joining the firm, Najjarpour spent more than a decade in consulting and compliance roles with national firms, where he worked closely with employers to solve day-to-day benefits challenges, as well as navigating the regulatory landscape governing executive compensation arrangements.
Najjarpour earned his LL.M. in Employee Benefits from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in December 2007 and earned his J.D. in 2007. Prior to law school, he earned his B.A. in Economics with a concentration in Finance and Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2002.
Darnell and Najjarpour’s arrivals underscore Miller Johnson’s ongoing expansion in Chicago and its dedication to building a team of talented attorneys who deliver practical, client-focused solutions.
Miller Johnson is a full-service firm providing legal counsel to businesses and individuals in corporate matters, employment and labor law, litigation, employee benefits, and private client representation. Since 1959, Miller Johnson has been Michigan-based and has served clients worldwide.
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