A dynamic law firm by McGirr
& Snell

Specialised in Commercial Litigation, Insurance Policy Holder Disputes,
Media & Defamation Law and Family Law.

Australian Boutique Law Firm of the Year 2022

Lawyers Weekly, 2022

Our key practice areas

01

Disputes & Litigation

Managing complex, high-stakes, multi-party disputes and litigation, Australia wide and in all Court jurisdictions.

02

Insurance Policy Holder Disputes

Unparalleled expertise to level the playing field between you and the insurance companies.

03

Media & Defamation

Balancing sensitivity and tenacity in the negotiation and resolution of reputational and defamation matters.

04

Building & Construction Litigation

Leading expertise in domestic and commercial property and building matters & litigation.

05

Family Law

Committed to addressing your needs with empathy, determination, and passion.

01

Disputes & Litigation

Handling disputes on behalf of a diverse client base, Australia wide and in all court jurisdictions.

We specialise in commercial litigation, insurance litigation and media & defamation law.

02

Insurance Policy Holder Disputes

We bring unparalleled expertise to level the playing field between you and the insurance companies.

Our mission is to ensure that you, as a policy holder, receive the payout you are contractually entitled to.

03

Media & Defamation

Specialised defamation and media law experience successfully representing a diverse client base.

We provide top-tier client outcomes without the big firm costs.

04

Building & Construction Litigation

Leading expertise in domestic and commercial property and building matters & litigation.

05

Family Law

A dynamic approach to family law practice, providing empathetic, pragmatic and strategic advice to clients in all areas of family and relationship law.

We are focussed on achieving the best possible outcome for clients taking into consideration their specific needs and objectives.

Our awards

Litigation Team of the Year 2025 - Finalist

Insurance Team of the Year 2025 - Finalist

Litigator of the Year 2025 - Finalist

Danielle Snell. Managing Partner of the Year.

Managing Partner of the Year - Winner

Law Firm Leader of the Year <100 employees - Winner

Boutique Firm of the Year - Winner

Our key benefits

Elit Cube

t.

Elit Cube
Empowering Expert Electronic

Empowering

We empower those we represent. From the very outset, we sit down with our clients to present a digital Elit Scenario Plan which sets out the various stages expected throughout the specific transaction and/or litigation cycle from pre-litigation case management to trial stage. As part of this process, we evaluate and explain the possible scenarios of each stage. Most importantly, we work with our clients from the outset to clearly identify what they want to achieve and articulate their ultimate purpose and objective.

Expert

We have deep expertise and are subject matter leaders in our field with over 60 years combined experience. Our firm offers our clients regular and bespoke legal updates and webinars/seminars so that they are regularly informed about changes and updates in the law. Additionally, we think beyond the law and are not constrained to only the resources within our firm. We collaborate and partner with likeminded stakeholders, service providers and our network of experts to offer our clients access to an array of multi-disciplinary advisors in order to deliver bespoke and integrated services.

Electronic

Gone are the days where clients should be waiting for their lawyer to provide them with information which should be accessible instantaneously.  In direct response, our firm has designed a bespoke suite of electronic solutions which creates a dynamic and progressive environment where clients are part of the team and journey rather than removed from it.  We provide our clients with 24/7 web-enabled access to the Elit Client Portal, directly connecting them to their file and all relevant documents and information.  Our eDiscovery and eTrial Management systems enables key stakeholders including barristers, advisors and service providers the ability to collaborate and work seamlessly with evidence in preparation for hearings and trials, increasing efficiency and reducing costs leading up to and during the course of court hearings and trials.

What does E-lit mean?

Our firm name ‘E-lit’ is inspired by our ethos, underpinned by the following core pillars:

Expert Litigation – offering deep expertise in our field.

Empowering Litigation – offering legal services that empower those we represent.

Electronic Litigation – fully integrated and automated firm with superior efficiency with e-litigation.

Expert

We have deep expertise and are subject matter leaders in our field with over 60 years combined experience. We think beyond the law and are not constrained to only the resources within our firm. We collaborate and partner with likeminded stakeholders, service providers and our network of experts to offer our clients access to an array of multi-disciplinary advisors in order to deliver bespoke and integrated services. Our firm offers our clients regular and bespoke legal updates and webinars/seminars so that they are regularly informed about changes and updates in the law.

Empowering

We empower those we represent. From the very outset, we sit down with our clients to present a digital Elit Scenario Plan which sets out the various stages expected throughout the specific transaction and/or litigation cycle from pre-litigation case management to trial stage. As part of this process, we evaluate and explain the possible scenarios of each stage. Most importantly, we work with our clients from the outset to clearly identify what they want to achieve and articulate their ultimate purpose and objective.

Electronic

Gone are the days where clients should have to wait for their lawyer to provide information which should be accessible instantaneously. Our firm has designed a bespoke suite of electronic solutions which creates a dynamic and progressive environment where our clients are part of the team and journey rather than removed from it. We provide 24/7 web-enabled access to the Elit Client Portal, directly connecting our clients to their file and all relevant documents and information. Our eDiscovery and eTrial Management systems enables key stakeholders including barristers, advisors and service providers the ability to collaborate and work seamlessly with evidence in preparation for hearings and trials, increasing efficiency and reducing costs leading up to and during the course of court hearings and trials.

About us

Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell was founded in November 2020 by award-winning litigator Danielle Snell and industry veteran Robert McGirr.  Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, our firm disrupts the traditional law firm model by offering an innovative and progressive delivery model to provide a truly authentic and transparent client experience.

Our firm was named Winner: Boutique Law Firm of the Year at the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards in 2022. We were also named by Australasian Lawyer as one of Australia’s Fastest Growing Firms.

In 2023, at the Australasian Law Awards, Danielle Snell emerged as the winner in the category of ‘Law Firm Leader of the Year (<200 employees).’

Danielle Snell

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER

Danielle is an award-winning litigator who has worked at several top tier law firms and on many high stakes and high-profile cases.

She has a passion for promoting Diversity, Inclusion & Equality in the sector and for challenging the traditional law firm model in order to provide a more transparent and authentic legal service to clients.

[email protected]
0401 812 885

Robert McGirr

CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER

Rob, an industry veteran, was admitted to practice in 1978 and became one of the Victoria’s first Accredited Commercial Litigation Specialists in 1993.

Rob has over 40 years experience in the legal industry as a Senior Partner responsible for commercial litigation and insurance legal teams.

[email protected]
0413 944 023

Aggie Vlahos

PARTNER

Aggie is an astute and sensitive lawyer with a diverse legal skill set, enabling her to support clients across various legal issues during a dispute.

Her clients greatly appreciate her vast and complementary knowledge spanning family law, corporate and commercial agreements, Wills, estates, and probate as well as workplace and employment disputes.

[email protected]
0405 995 057

Jason Chew

Partner

Jason is a seasoned commercial litigator with extensive experience gained from working in leading national and international law firms.

He advises and represents clients across a broad spectrum of commercial disputes, with a particular focus on complex multi-party building and construction claims and third-party property damage matters.

Jason is known by his clients and peers for his pragmatic and cost-effective approach.

[email protected]
0422 128 138

Our specialty expertise

Solving Legal Conflicts

Since founding Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell, Danielle and Robert have become the ‘go to’ lawyers for other legal professionals who encounter conflict issues and are highly regarded as a trusted pair of hands.

Legal Case Reviews

With highly regarded reputations in the industry for creative solutions to complex issues, Danielle Snell and Robert McGirr are often sought out as a fresh pair of eyes, someone new to examine and critique a dispute or legal case.

Our latest news

News

Identifying the ‘Defamatory Sting’ at Stake - Supreme Court in Wilks v Qu Finds Post-publication...
Identifying the ‘Defamatory Sting’ at Stake - Supreme Court in Wilks v Qu Finds Post-publication...

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Who Is a Parent? Clarifying Parentage in IVF Cases After Ophoven & Berzina
Who Is a Parent? Clarifying Parentage in IVF Cases After Ophoven & Berzina

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What the 2025 Family Law Changes Mean for You
What the 2025 Family Law Changes Mean for You

News

The new tort of ‘Serious Invasion of Privacy’ comes into force today
The new tort of ‘Serious Invasion of Privacy’ comes into force today: Our team sets...

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Who Keeps the Pet? New Family Law Reforms for Companion Animals After Separation
Who Keeps the Pet? New Family Law Reforms for Companion Animals After Separation

News

“Mud Sticks”: Court allows First Pseudonym Order for Plaintiff in Defamation Action
“Mud Sticks”: Court allows First Pseudonym Order for Plaintiff in Defamation Action

"

"We were forced to issue legal proceedings against the insurer for a number of reasons including disagreement about the amount of money that was required to be paid out under the policy to reinstate our home. I want to express our deepest heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all Elit did for our family throughout this matter."

Insurance Policy Holder

Home owner

Thank you to Danielle and Mark and the Elit team for all their hard work in acting for myself and my family against a large international insurer following a fire sustained at our home. We were forced to issue legal proceedings against the insurer for a number of reasons including disagreement about the amount of money that was required to be paid out under the policy to reinstate our home. I want to express our deepest heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all Elit did for our family throughout this matter.
The work of Danielle and Mark was professional, consistent and to the highest standard throughout this process. I was so impressed by each of the team. It wasn’t just their exceptional professional work that left the impression, but more importantly, their interactions as good, decent, kind individuals. Thank you Elit for captaining this litigation ship throughout the tiresome journey! We really appreciate everything you have done for us. I hope and pray that each one of you has a share in some of the comfort you have provided my family in your own lives.

"

"Being subject to malicious false statements was very stressful, as I have always conducted myself with professionalism and integrity.  As a result of the action taken by Robert McGirr & Elit Lawyers, the false statements were retracted, I received a formal apology and was paid my legal costs. "

Defamation

Plaintiff

I was engaged to appear on behalf of a resident at an aged care home in a proceeding before the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT). A false and defamatory email was sent by a senior executive of the home about my conduct at the hearing to a number of third parties.

The false statements contained in that email were serious and damaging to my reputation, and included amongst other things, an imputation of criminality, which if proven to be true, could have resulted in a term of imprisonment. Being subject to malicious false statements was very stressful, as I have always conducted myself with professionalism and integrity. 

As a result of the action taken by Robert McGirr and Elit Lawyers, the false statements were retracted, I received a formal apology and was paid my legal costs. I could not have achieved this outcome without the assistance of Robert. I felt informed and comforted throughout the process and am very grateful for the early result that was achieved. 

"

"I was devastated when I learnt of a very serious defamatory publication made against me. I was so grateful to Danielle and the legal team who were able to obtain a pseudonym order in my favour so that I was able to advance defamation proceedings with anonymity."

Defamation

Plaintiff

I was devastated when I learnt of a very serious defamatory publication made against me.

I was concerned that bringing a Court proceeding would lead to widespread media reporting which would in turn repeat the allegations made against me and cause even more harm to my reputation because let’s face it – mud sticks.

I was so grateful to Danielle and the legal team who were able to obtain a pseudonym order in my favour so that I was able to advance defamation proceedings against the publishers with anonymity and be comforted that the defamatory content linked to my name would not be further spread.

I felt vindicated at the end of the matter and will always look back on the experience as a difficult one but knowing that issuing the court proceedings was what I had to do in order to achieve redress and restore my reputation.

"

"When we were targeted by a vexatious and unfounded online attack, I turned to Robert, Danielle, and Elit for advice. As I am a lawyer myself, Elit’s ability to zone in so quickly on what was best for us really impressed me. "

Defamation

Lawyer and Business Owner

As a lawyer and business owner, I take our professional reputation seriously.

When we were targeted by a vexatious and unfounded online attack, I turned to Robert, Danielle, and Elit for advice. Their calm, clear, and strategic guidance was exactly what we needed. They quickly understood the key issues and provided practical options that prioritised our values and professional standing.

I was impressed with their ability to get across the key issues and provide real life practical advice during this critical time which really centred around us and what was best for our business.

As I am a lawyer myself, Elit’s ability to zone in so quickly on what was best for us really impressed me.

"

"My business was sued for defamation. The Eit team were able to pinpoint the weaknesses in the other side’s case and were able to resolve the proceeding on very favourable terms for us."

CEO

Medical Industry

My business was sued for defamation and my insurance company appointed Aggie, Danielle, Robert and the Elit team to act in my defence of the proceeding.

I was astounded by the fact that the Eit team were able to pinpoint the weaknesses in the other side’s case and after bringing an interlocutory application on my behalf, they were able to resolve the proceeding on very favourable terms for us.

I felt informed and comforted throughout the process and am very grateful for the early result that was achieved.

"

"I felt comforted and informed throughout the legal process and was happy with the early resolution of the case which achieved my ultimate objectives."

Director

ASX Listed Company

Danielle and team acted on behalf of myself and my fellow directors of an ASX listed company in the Supreme Court of Western Australia involving repeated attacks and defamatory content being posted about us on a forum website. The third party website operator was also joined to the proceeding.

Given the personal attacks made against me and my fellow directors, it was a difficult situation over an extended period and I felt comforted and informed throughout the legal process and was happy with the early resolution of the case which achieved my ultimate objectives to have the content removed and undertakings that no future defamatory content would be published by the person involved.

In the Media

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