The Elit Journey

Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell was founded in November 2020 by award-winning litigator Danielle Snell and industry veteran Robert McGirr.
When the firm launched, Danielle Snell was 7 months pregnant with her second child and Robert McGirr was returning from a sabbatical after having worked in a Melbourne CBD office for over 40 years.

Our team has seamlessly adapted to a progressive working style and is made up of individuals from all different backgrounds and age-groups who balance their passion for the law with a range of responsibilities, including caring for young children and disabled family members, sitting in board positions, and older staff transitioning into reduced hours.

Our clients are at the centre of our firm and bespoke technology solutions, which promote transparency, accountability and real time management.

Running multi-million dollar litigation in the confines of her dining room during Melbourne’s 2020 lockdown, award winning litigator Danielle Snell knew the law industry would never be the same again. She approached former colleague, industry veteran Robert McGirr, with a vision to create a truly entrepreneurial, future focussed and progressive law firm.

Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell seeks to disrupt the traditional law firm model by combining flexible work practices with a dynamic virtual environment to create an authentic and transparent client experience.

We provide tailored solutions to clients in our core areas of speciality, commercial disputes, insurance litigation and media and defamation law. We also have a special interest in issues of diversity and inclusion.

Our team regularly act in multi-party legal proceedings, complaints, investigations and inquiries in all Australian jurisdictions; and proudly represent a diverse client base, comprising directors, executives, shareholders, professionals, private individuals, public figures, companies, leading industry bodies and associations.

We are committed to technology which empowers clients, enabling them to be part of the team and journey rather than being removed from it. We provide personalised support through a 24/7 web-enabled portal which directly connects clients to their relevant transaction and documents. Our ‘Scenario Plan’ also provides certainty to litigation clients by providing a journey map to illustrate the various ways in which their matter may unfold and the steps required to achieve their stated objective whilst managing the risks involved.

Our team is comprised of highly experienced professionals who embrace our flexible work culture, enabling them to collaborate and deliver excellent client service without compromising on their personal commitments. With a surge in new client files and the attraction of our agile and adaptive working model to prospective employees, we quickly expanded our team from our two co-founders, Danielle and Robert, to 10 employees within a 6 month period. We are proudly a genuine equal opportunity employer that promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace that aligns with our clients’ own ethos.

Elit Lawyers by McGirr and Snell is annually recognised at prestigious industry awards, most notably being named Winner “Boutique Law Firm of the Year” at the Australian Law Awards in 2022. At the same awards in 2023, Elit was named “Litigation Team of the Year” Finalist; and “New Law Firm of the Year” Finalist (for the third consecutive year). Co-Founder and Managing Partner Danielle Snell is also annually recognised, most notably being named Winner “Managing Partner of the Year” at the Australian Law Awards in 2023. At the Australasian Law Awards she was named Winner “Law Firm Leader of the Year <100 employees” (2023) and Winner “Law Firm Leader of the Year <200 employees” (2022).

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With us personally, it is just one more way we’re different.

Danielle Snell

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER

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Robert McGirr

CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER

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Our latest news

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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

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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

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

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"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.

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"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. 

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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.

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"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.

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"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.

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"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.

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