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.
Biography
For her commitments to innovation, high stakes litigation and issues of diversity and inclusion, Danielle is recognised by leading and prestigious industry publications.
- Managing Partner of the Year – Lawyers Weekly 2023.
- Law Firm Leader of the Year (<100 employees) – Australasian Lawyer Law Awards 2023.
- Recognised in the 2023 Top 100 Women list for setting high standards of excellence and contributing in inspiring ways to the construction industry.
- Law Firm Leader of the Year (<200 employees) – Australasian Lawyer Law Awards 2022.
- Reputational Risk Lawyer of the Year in Australia 2022 – Global Law Experts.
- Most Influential Lawyer 2021 – Australasian Lawyer in the category of ‘changemaker’.
- Rising Star Litigation series 2021 – Lawyerly, which profiles lawyers under 40 whose successes belie their age.
- Executive of the Year finalist – Lawyers Weekly 2021, Women in Law Awards.
- Recognised in the 2021 ‘Elite Women’ report by Australasian Lawyer as one of the top 50 trailblazing women in the legal industry.
- Recognised in the 2021 Top 100 Women list for setting high standards of excellence and contributing in inspiring ways to the construction industry.
Major Matters
Major Matters
Awards & Accolades
Law Firm Leader of the Year <100 employees
Executive of the Year - Finalist
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
- 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.
"
"The best of the best plaintiff lawyers against insurance companies. We had a very tough and complex case and Danielle and her team settled with the insurance company for an optimal outcome."
Insurance Policy Holder
Home owner
The best of the best plaintiff lawyers team against insurance companies.
We had a very tough and complex case against insurance company that we lost our home and contents. After disappointing and frustrating process from another law firm and firing them we found Danielle Snell and her team.
They are very dedicated, knowledgeable, passionate and possess great communication skills. We couldn’t ask for more and settled with a optimal outcome.
"
"It’s great to be able to confidently refer clients to someone who can help and support them, and to feel that they are receiving the best service."
Senior Adviser
Financial Planner
We are so glad to have you in our referral channel.
It’s great to be able to confidently refer clients to someone who can help and support them, and to feel that they are receiving the best service.
"
"This was a “David v Goliath” fight as our dispute was with a large global corporation. The attention, compassion and guidance that Danielle and the team showed us was absolutely incredible."
CEO & Founder
National mental-health support organisation
We recently instructed Danielle from Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell to help with a legal dispute. As a small purpose led business, this was a “David v Goliath” fight as our dispute was with a large global corporation. This dispute was during a very emotional time as we were in the middle of a global pandemic, Melbourne’s sixth lockdown, homeschooling and no childcare – all while trying to keep our small business alive.
The attention, compassion and guidance that Danielle and the team showed us was absolutely incredible. I have 10 years legal experience myself and even with that, I was reluctant to litigate, especially during such a difficult time. However Danielle always gave us confidence in knowing that she was in our corner and always working for our best interests, so my reluctance was quickly appeased.
Today I am pleased to share that David defeated Goliath and we could not be more thrilled with the result we received thanks to Danielle and the team from Elit Lawyers. Danielle not only saved our company, but ensured that we could continue doing the good work we were previously and helping improve the lives and mental health of mothers across Australia.
I could not recommend Danielle and the team from Elit Lawyers more highly. I am *hoping* that I will never need their services again, but feel very reassured knowing they are there and always in my corner.
Thank you Danielle and team.
"
"I consider Robert and Danielle to be “trusted and safe pair of hands” who will respect the originating client relationship."
Senior Partner
Leading Melbourne Law Firm
For the sake of my own reputation and practice, I always refer conflicted legal matters or those outside my expertise to Elit Lawyers as I consider Robert and Danielle to be “trusted and safe pair of hands” who will respect the originating client relationship.
"
"Elit negotiated a settlement which saw all proceedings against my company dismissed, with no order as to costs."
Owner and Managing Director
Major Transport Company
I was recently introduced to Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell by my former lawyers after they were required to cease acting for me due to a conflict of interest. The stakes were high as my company was exposed to multiple court proceedings. Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell impressed me so much. They went that extra mile and were able to negotiate a settlement which saw all proceedings against my company dismissed, with no order as to costs. I can’t thank Elit enough.
"
"I was immediately impressed by their ability to assume conduct quickly and get across all the legal issues..."
Senior Victorian Litigator
As a senior lawyer working at a national law firm, conflicts come up from time to time. Most recently, I was conflicted from acting for a client when an insurance issue arose. I referred the client directly to Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell and was immediately impressed by their ability to assume conduct quickly and get across all the legal issues. My client contacted me a few months after achieving an outstanding result and was very appreciative of the referral to your terrific firm.