Meet Our Legal Team
Danielle E. Downer, Esquire, is a native of Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Downer moved to the Sunshine State to pursue her undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida on a merit-based scholarship. Ms. Downer earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of South Florida, where she became a research fellow for the National Science Foundation. She founded a debate organization focused on social issues currently impacting its members and the community.
Ms. Downer started her law career as a paralegal for a foreclosure law firm. Ms. Downer then attended the University of Florida Levin College Of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. Ms. Downer was very active in law school. She competed in multiple moot courts and mock trials as a Jessup Law Moot Court and Black Law Student Association member. After earning a book award (#1 ranked student) in Mediation, Ms. Downer became a teaching assistant in Mediation for the last year of law school.
A member of the Florida Bar since 2013, Ms. Downer began her legal career in the General Counsel office of Publix Super Markets, Inc. as an In-House attorney focused on drafting and negotiating multi-million-dollar agreements for a variety of departments, including Information Technology, Marketing, Corporate Purchasing, Manufacturing, Distribution, Risk Management, and Human Resources. Additionally, Ms. Downer drafted and rolled out corporate policies and procedures to benefit over 100 thousand employees.
In 2019, Ms. Downer decided to pursue her true passion – advocating on behalf of others in criminal and family law matters. She joined the Myers Law Group with attorney Rachel Myers as a partner. The two attorneys worked hand in hand to zealously advocate on the behalf of their clients.
In 2022, Ms. Downer’s law partner, Ms. Myers, was appointed as a judge in Volusia County and Danielle started her own firm – Downer Law, where she uses her background, research expertise, diverse legal experiences, negotiation prowess, mediation skills, risk analysis, and legal training to effectively represent and advocate for her clients.
Education
- Sociology, University of South Florida, Bachelor of Arts (2009)
- Juris Doctor, University of Florida Levin College of Law (2013)
Bar Admissions
- The Florida Bar, 2013
Practice Areas
- Business Law (contract negotiations, business consultation, contract creation and implementation, risk analysis, and other business law focused matters)
- Dependency Law (dependency, termination of parental rights, foster parenting, permanent guardianship and grandparent representation)
- Family Law (custody and visitation, divorce, paternity, injunctions, pre-marital agreements, and other marriage and family law focused matters)
- Estates Planning (wills, trusts, healthcare proxies, and power of attorneys)
Professional and Civic Affiliations
- Volusia Flagler Association for Women Lawyers, Member
- Volusia County Bar Association, Member
- Orlando County Bar Association, Member
- Seminole Association for Women Lawyers, Member
- Seminole County Bar Association, member
Awards, Honors, and Other Information
- Founder/President, Social Debate Club, University of South Florida (2008 – 2010)
- President/Vice-President, Pre-Law Society, University of South Florida (2008 – 2010)
- Vice-President, Mock Trial Club, University of South Florida (2008 – 2010)
- Fellow, National Science Foundation, Hurricane Undergraduate Research Experience (2009)
- Presenter, American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences Annual Forum (2010)
- Trial Team, Black Law Student Association, the University of Florida Levin College of Law (2010 – 2012)
- Team Member, Jessup International Law Moot Court (2011 – 2013)
- Book Award, Mediation Clinic, University of Florida Levin College of Law (2012)
- Teaching Assistant, Mediation Clinic, University of Florida Levin College of Law (2013)
- Member, Phi Alpha Delta, University of Florida Levin College of Law (since 2012)
- Marshall, Phi Alpha Delta, University of Florida Levin College of Law (2012)
- Professional Latin dancer and instructor (since 2017)
Ms. Downer was recently featured as a Family Law panelist on Behind The Law, aired on the Fox News channel. Behind The Law, show takes you behind the law and answers your toughest legal questions.