Danielle Lawrence

Danielle Gibbons

Associate
Baker & McKenzie LLP

Biography

Danielle Gibbons is an associate in the Employment & Compensation Practice Group in Baker McKenzie's New York office, with experience advising employers regarding state, federal and global employment laws.

Practice Focus

Danielle regularly advises employers on complex compliance-related issues. She guides clients on decisions related to hiring, firing, compensation, and personnel issues, including updating employment and independent contractor agreements, employee handbooks, employment policies, separation agreements and confidentiality agreements. She also regularly conducts internal investigations and evaluates employer liability regarding alleged employee or contractor misconduct. She is also well-versed in advising on the labor and employment-related issues involved in mergers and acquisitions.

Representative Legal Matters

Prior to joining the Firm, Danielle advised on the following matters:

  • Prepared witnesses and drafted post-hearing brief on behalf of a private higher education institution in a hearing before the NLRB regarding a representation election petition; union representative agreed to a favorable settlement after post-hearing briefs were filed.

  • Advised various clients, including a world-renowned concert venue and a political data, technology-based agency, and multi-location bakery on WARN Act compliance measures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Obtained summary judgment dismissal of punitive damages claim based on an intern’s sexual misconduct with a student on behalf of a K-12 private school.

  • Conducted an internal investigation regarding allegations of confidentiality breaches by contingent workers for a multinational investment bank and financial services company.

  • Developed multi-state compliant leave policy for an international architecture firm.

  • Successfully argued for denial of plaintiffs’ motion to renew and reargue application to limit defendants to one shared psychological expert examination of an infant plaintiff.

  • Successfully brought motion to dismiss on behalf of academic hospital in case involving breach of contract, defamation, and antitrust violations claims, among others, brought under a joint-employer theory.

  • Managed document review on behalf of a municipality in a multi-plaintiff litigation involving discrimination and retaliation claims emanating from the First Amendment, the Equal Protection clause, Title VII, and ADA.

Professional Honors

  • The National Black Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40, 2019

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Pathfinder, 2021

Admissions

  • New York~United States (2018)
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York~United States (2018)
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York~United States (2018)

Education

  • Fordham University School of Law (JD) (2017)
  • University of Florida (BS, cum laude) (2014)

Languages

  • English