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.

Danielle Snell. Managing Partner of the Year.

Biography

Danielle Snell is an award-winning litigator who established her own dynamic litigation firm after 15 years of top-tier practice. She specialises in commercial litigation, insurance policy holder disputes and media law; with a special interest in women’s rights.
 
Danielle has acted on many high-profile cases and represents a diverse range of clients including directors, executives, shareholders, professionals, public and sporting figures, members of parliament, companies and associations across a breadth of industries.
 
She is known for acting in complex multi-party legal proceedings, complaints, investigations and inquiries in all jurisdictions including the Federal, Supreme and County Courts, as well as VCAT. Her high success rate of settling cases prior to trial is due to her ability to strategise, navigate the expectations of various stakeholders in litigation and negotiate smart commercial outcomes. She is authentic and charismatic in her dealings with others and combines a deep knowledge of the law with a practical approach to litigation.
 
Danielle is a mother, wife, friend and professional who was pregnant at the time she decided to create a truly entrepreneurial law firm that promotes a new way of servicing clients. She has a passion for promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal sector and for challenging the traditional law firm model in order to provide a more authentic and transparent legal service to clients. She endeavours to create and grow a progressive workplace of the future.
 
Solving conflict issues through collaboration with other lawyers is one of Danielle’s key strengths, becoming the ‘go to’ litigator for conflict referral matters.  She is highly regarded for her ability to collaborate and look after other lawyers’ clients in circumstances where conflict issues arise.
 
Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell was one of the first signatories to the Law Institute of Victoria’s Charter for the Advancement of Women.  Danielle sits on the Law Institute of Victoria’s Litigation Lawyers Executive Committee, Court Practice Committee, Diversity Committee (Sexual Harassment Working Group), chairs women’s legal network groups and is a mentor to young lawyers as part of the Victorian Women Lawyers Professional Mentoring Program.  Danielle is a proficient public speaker and regularly speaks at industry events.
 
Awards & accolades

For her commitments to innovation, high stakes litigation and issues of diversity and inclusion, Danielle is recognised by leading and prestigious industry publications.

Major Matters

Major Matters

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Awards & Accolades

Law Firm Leader of the Year <100 employees

This award recognises Danielle as an outstanding leader setting the benchmark for excellence in the legal profession.

Executive of the Year - Finalist

This award recognises Danielle as an outstanding leader setting the benchmark for excellence in the legal profession.

Most Influential Lawyer - Changemaker

This esteemed award recognises Danielle’s significant contributions to the legal profession across the areas of innovation, diversity and leadership.

Litigation Rising Star

This distinguished honour names Danielle Snell amongst top barristers and solicitors under the age of 40 whose successes in high stakes litigation belie their age.

Other accomplishments

Danielle has impacted the administration of justice in Victoria and the legal profession by:
 
  • dedicating her practice to issues of Diversity, Inclusion & Equality in the legal sector and developing processes designed to provide a more transparent, compassionate and authentic legal service to clients;
  • representing women in sexual harassment complaints lodged against individuals and employers at the Australian Human Rights Commission under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) and the Federal Court of Australia;
  • sitting on the Diversity Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria Sexual Harassment Working Group to promote equality within the legal sector and in particular focus on improvements to eliminate sexual harassment in the legal sector (noting that a study undertaken by the Victorian Legal Services Board in 2019 found a staggering 36 per cent of legal professionals had experienced sexual harassment at work);
  • in her role as member of the Litigation Lawyers Executive Committee and Court Practice Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria, passionately contributing her perspective on wide variety of issues connected with the administration of justice in Victoria including recommendations on law reform, review of Court processes, costs and effects of systems in litigation, fostering among lawyers awareness for continuing legal education and development through innovation;
  • chairing women’s legal network groups focused on assisting the development of female practitioners in the profession and acting as mentor to young legal professionals; and
  • holding membership and participating in events run by Diverse Women in the Law, Victorian Women Lawyers and Women in Insurance. 

Other accomplishments

Danielle has impacted the administration of justice in Victoria and the legal profession by:

dedicating her practice to issues of Diversity, Inclusion & Equality in the legal sector and developing processes designed to provide a more transparent, compassionate and authentic legal service to clients.

representing women in sexual harassment complaints lodged against individuals and employers at the Australian Human Rights Commission under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) and the Federal Court of Australia.

sitting on the Diversity Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria Sexual Harassment Working Group to promote equality within the legal sector and in particular focus on improvements to eliminate sexual harassment in the legal sector (noting that a study undertaken by the Victorian Legal Services Board in 2019 found a staggering 36 per cent of legal professionals had experienced sexual harassment at work).

in her role as member of the Litigation Lawyers Executive Committee and Court Practice Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria, passionately contributing her perspective on wide variety of issues connected with the administration of justice in Victoria including recommendations on law reform, review of Court processes, costs and effects of systems in litigation, fostering among lawyers awareness for continuing legal education and development through innovation.

chairing women’s legal network groups focused on assisting the development of female practitioners in the profession and acting as mentor to young legal professionals.

holding membership and participating in events run by Diverse Women in the Law, Victorian Women Lawyers and Women in Insurance. 

Danielle Snell

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER

[email protected]
0401 812 885

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"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.

"

"I found Danielle and Robert to be knowledgeable and responsive especially because there were tight deadlines. We ultimately succeeded on appeal and this was the result we were very much hoping for."

Appellant

Building Appeals Board

Danielle and Robert acted for our family in relation to the appeal lodged by us to the Building Appeals Board concerning a lift we sought to have installed in our property for my mother which was objected to by the Council.

I found Danielle and Robert to be knowledgeable and responsive especially because there were tight deadlines including for the provision of expert evidence and a number of technical matters to consider.

We ultimately succeeded on appeal and this was the result we were very much hoping for.

"

"I was referred to Danielle as a leader in her field and it was evident from the initial phone call why she had garnered that reputation. I now recommended Danielle and team to my own clients who encounter defamatory attacks."

Defamation

Law Firm Owner

When my business and I were defamed and threatened online, I was incredibly distressed. Particularly because the publisher threatened to publish more defamatory material.

I was referred to Danielle as a leader in her field and it was evident from the initial phone call why she had garnered that reputation.

These matters are so time sensitive and was so grateful for how quickly Danielle and her team made time for me and wrote to the publisher in order to prevent any further damage to our reputation and have the defamatory material removed.  Their ability to formulate an action plan so quickly and act upon it led to the publisher agreeing to remove and not publish any further defamatory material.

This was a huge relief to me, I now recommended Danielle and team to my own clients who encounter defamatory attacks as I know first hand they will be looked after and positive results can be achieved with the right strategy and Elit’s legal representation.

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