Experience at Work
Dani believes the law is just one part of a client’s needs. Because of that, she is committed to thoroughly understanding each of her client’s business goals, mission, and values in order to provide effective and efficient solutions unique to each client’s business. In doing so, she relies on more than just legal knowledge. Having worked with a variety of businesses as a graphic and web artist for over a decade, Dani learned the importance of figuring out how to translate a client’s vision into a client’s reality. Applying this approach to the legal world, Dani makes sure to always view a client’s legal needs in relation to their business goals, striving to create harmony between the two. This creative and results-driven approach has proven successful—in both the legal outcome and in the satisfaction of the client. Dani has worked with television production companies, movie production companies, digital entertainment companies, software development companies, restaurateurs, artists, actors, authors, and entrepreneurs in connection with their business formation, deal structure, network contracts, rights acquisition, IP licensing, software licensing, and copyright and trademark protection. Dani focuses on entity formation and structuring, business disputes, commercial transactions, real estate, copyrights, and trademarks. Dani joined Capes Sokol as a Summer Associate and continued working with the firm as a Law Clerk throughout her 3L year.
In the Community
Dani is extremely involved in the start-up and entrepreneur community, developing business relationships initially as a freelance graphic and web artist and then continuing to foster those relationships as an attorney. She is an adjunct professor at Washington University Olin Business School, where she teaches an upper-level course on business law, and currently serves on the Board of The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to fostering, promoting, and encouraging young people in the St. Louis region to discover and participate in the joy and wonder of live performances. The Foundation also provides unique opportunities and develops educational performing arts programs focused on young artists. Dani is an active volunteer at a pro bono legal clinic hosted by Grace Hill Settlement House. The legal clinic is part of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s Community Economic Development Program, which assists low income entrepreneurs and small non-profits who do not have the resources to obtain basic legal assistance.
Awards & Recognition
Awards
- Super Lawyers® | Missouri and Kansas Rising Stars List, Rising Star (2024)
- Missouri Lawyers Weekly, Up and Coming Lawyer (2023)
Recognitions
- Saint Louis University School of Law | Dean’s List
Memberships & Associations
Professional Organizations
- American Bar Association (ABA)
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- ABA Young Lawyers
- ABA Business
- ABA Intellectual Property
Education
Educational Background
- J.D., Saint Louis University School of Law (2018)
- B.A., Communications, Political Science, and Pre-Law, Loyola University Chicago (2013)
Knowledge & Insights
Speaking Engagements
- Corporate & Intellectual Property / Advertising Legal Q & A. Women in Business Workshop. St. Louis, MO (2023)
- Marketing & Advertising Compliance. Women in Business Workshop. St. Louis, MO (2020)
- Properly Advertising and Protecting Your Company’s Intellectual Property. Women in Business Workshop. St. Louis, MO (2019)
Teaching
- Adjunct professor at Washington University Olin Business School, where she teaches an upper-level course on business law
Podcasts
- Dani Durban: Fun, Creativity, and Contracts. The Screen Lawyer Podcast (2023)
- Protect your Business ft. Danielle Durban, Attorney and Graphic Designer. Curious Me Podcast (2021)
Firm Programs
- Virtual Work Vulnerabilities. Capes Sokol Business & Real Estate Symposium. St. Louis, MO (2021)
Firm Insights
- Does the “Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venue Act” Actually Soften Any Blows?
- We’re Back…and So is the Government with Another Round of PPP and EIDL Funding
- Data In, Data Out: Concerns Around PPP Loan Data Accuracy
- Hot Off the Press: SBA Release New FAQs on PPP Loan Forgiveness
- Expansion of the Main Street Lending Programs: Small Business & Nonprofit Organizations
- Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act: Changes to the Paycheck Protection Program
- SBA and Treasury’s FAQ #46’s Certification “Safe Harbor” May Not Be As Safe As Borrower’s Think
- Federal Reserve Publishes Updated Main Street Lending Programs
- Paycheck Protection Program – We’ve Talked About FAQ #31…Now What?
- Paycheck Protection Program – Treasury FAQ #31: Am I Really Supposed to Give My Money Back?
- Mid-Sized Businesses, The CARES Act Care(s) About You!
- With Great Funding Comes Great Responsibility: Oversight and Enforcement Provisions within the CARES Act
- Congress Expresses Additional CARE(s) for Small Businesses Suffering Economic Injury
- Businesses Should CARE(s) About This: The SBA is Releasing New Information Regarding 7(a) Loans
- Strain, Strain, Go Away, I’ll Perform Another Day: COVID-19 Force Majeure Claims in Missouri
- SBA’s Disaster Assistance Loan in the Age of COVID-19: “Economic Injury Declaration” by SBA Required for Missouri
- “Play Gloria” (and Trademark and Copyright It, Too?)
- Don’t Get Swept Away: Missouri Sweepstakes Law
Admissions & Qualifications
Bar & Court Admissions
- Missouri
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
Leadership & Community Engagement
Current Leadership Positions
- Washington University Olin Business School | Adjunct Professor
- The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation | Board Member
Civic & Community
- Grace Hill Settlement House | Volunteer for their Pro Bono Legal Clinic
- St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) | Volunteer