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Danielle Snell

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER

Danielle Snell is an award winning lawyer, specialising in Commercial Litigation, Policyholder Insurance Cases and Defamation & Media Law.

Danielle Snell is an award winning lawyer, specialising in Commercial Litigation, Policyholder Insurance Cases and Defamation & Media Law.

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 defamation & 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

Business Interruption losses

Representing several of Melbourne’s iconic heritage theatres in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings against a major insurer seeking COVID-19 related business interruption losses in excess of $20million.

Supreme Court insurance case against large insurer

Acted in Supreme Court Proceedings for homeowners against large insurer concerning deluxe home and contents insurance coverage after fire event occurred causing over $4m in damage. This dispute centred around quantum and the fair and accurate amount to be paid out under the policy and also involved allegations against insurer of breaches of utmost duty of good faith and negligence. The case was listed for 11 day trial and ultimately settled 5 weeks prior to trial at a further mediation held by the parties

Supreme Court challenge of aircraft declinature by insurers

Acted for policy holder (high value aircraft owner) in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings issued in the Insurance List against three major co-insurers regarding total declinature of claim following total loss of aircraft. The proceeding resolved at mediation and involved a substantial payout by insurers which was a significant shift from insurers original positions.

Christian Porter v ABC [2021] FCA 863

Acted for a key witness in defamation proceedings issued by Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and journalist, Louise Milligan, in the Federal Court of Australia. Porter v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2021] FCA 863.

Obtained Pseudonym order for defamation plaintiff

Successfully obtained Pseudonym order for defamation plaintiff in County Court of Victoria (first of its kind) on the basis that further media reporting of the alleged imputation would lead to further damage to the plaintiff’s reputation. Successfully resolved case at early mediation prior to directions hearing of matter.

Acted for CEO & Founder of ASX Listed Company

Advised and acted for high profile Chief Executive Officer and Founder of ASX listed company concerning reputational and defamation matters concerning alleged breaches of health directions in respect of COVID-19.

Awards & Accolades

Partner of the Year – Winner 2026

Executive of the Year – Finalist 2025

Litigator of the Year – Finalist

Danielle Snell. Managing Partner of the Year.

Managing Partner of the Year

Most Influential Lawyer – Changemaker

Executive of the Year – Finalist 2021

Other accomplishments

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

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Danielle Snell

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER

0401 812 885

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"Danielle guided us through the entire process with confidence and transparency, ensuring we always felt informed and supported."

Insurance Law

Plaintiff

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We had an outstanding experience working with Danielle. From the very beginning, she demonstrated exceptional professionalism, clear communication, and a genuine understanding of our situation. She guided us through the entire process with confidence and transparency, ensuring we always felt informed and supported.

What truly stood out was her ability to achieve a fast resolution while securing the exact outcome we were hoping for. Her expertise and strategic approach made a stressful situation significantly easier to manage.

Equally impressive was Danielle’s compassion and friendliness. She took the time to listen, showed real empathy, and made us feel like more than just another case. We always felt valued and reassured

"

"Danielle kept me well-informed and involved, ensuring I was aware of all my options throughout the legal process"

Insurance Law

Plaintiff

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Danielle Snell and the Elit Lawyers team acted for me on a high value insurance claim after insurers denied me all cover after my aircraft was damaged during the filming of a Hollywood movie. Given that insurers denied me all cover and offered to pay zero, with Danielle and team’s guidance, I issued proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria – Insurance List against the insurers involved. Danielle kept me well-informed and involved, ensuring I was aware of all my options throughout the legal process.

This was a stressful period for me, but I always felt confident and supported . I was happy to resolve the case prior to trial which involved a pay-out by the insurers. I felt confident to take on the insurers with the representation and support of Elit Lawyers and it proved to be the right move as I was ultimately paid out under my policy which was very different to the insurer’s original decision to pay me nothing.

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"Within days, the podcast episode was removed and I was also given an apology, undertaking and some payment towards my legal costs"

Defamation – CEO

Plaintiff

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I highly recommend Danielle and her team to anyone needing to fight defamation matters, they achieve results! I was defamed on a podcast which was published on various forums. The Elit team prepared detailed Concerns Notices to the original publisher and also to the podcast operator and other forums the podcast was published on.  Within days, the podcast episode was removed and I was also given an apology, undertaking and some payment towards my legal costs. Thank you to the Elit team for helping me with this personal matter.

– CEO 

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"On advice from Danielle and Mark, I sued the insurer in the Federal Court Insurance List and a settlement was reached within a couple of months!"

Insurance Law

Plaintiff

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One night, thieves broke into my home through the garage and stole my car whilst my wife and kids and myself were all in the house. They then abandoned and set the car on fire, resulting in a total loss. My insurance claim was denied because the car was parked in the driveway instead of the garage. On advice from Danielle and Mark, I sued the insurer in the Federal Court Insurance List and a settlement was reached within a couple of months!

"

"Aggie kept me well informed at every step and her supportive and approachable manner made a very stressful period in my life far easier to navigate."

Family Law – Property

Plaintiff

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I’m very thankful that my financial planner referred me to Aggie Vlahos. She guided me through negotiating, documenting and completing my family law property settlement with my ex. Aggie kept me well informed at every step and her supportive and approachable manner made a very stressful period in my life far easier to navigate. Would absolutely recommend.

 

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"I was grateful for Aggie’s expert advice, patience, and support during my family law court case"

Family Law

Plaintiff

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Aggie acted for me in relation to my litigated family law matter – during an intense and difficult time in my life.  I was grateful for Aggie’s expert advice, patience, and support during my family law court case which we were able to resolve positively at mediation. I would strongly recommend Aggie and her team to anybody needing legal assistance with their family law matter.

 

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