Danielle is a founding attorney at Hawkes Quam, LLC. She practices family law exclusively.
Danielle frequently gives presentations on family law topics and LGBT rights in Utah. In 2021-22, Danielle developed and advocated for an inaugural year-long series of family law education sessions for judges around the state, a program that has been extended for at least a second year as of 2023. Once the judicial education sessions were approved, she created and led a subcommittee of the Family Law Executive Committee through the full implementation of the series. In 2015, she spoke in front of approximately 200 Utah judges, giving a legal update on LGBT issues at the Utah Judicial Institute. She was asked to return and give a similar talk to the Utah Justice Court Judges at their conference in 2017 and then again in 2020 and 2023. In 2021, she gave a diversity presentation to the Family Law Commissioners at their annual retreat. She has given similar presentations for several other family law groups in the state. Danielle has also developed and given many presentations regarding lawyer well-being in her roles as secretary and chair of the Lawyers Helping Lawyers committee at the Utah State Bar.
Danielle has served on the board of the Family Law Executive Committee at the Utah State Bar for several years, including sitting as secretary, vice-chair, and chair for one year each. She also serves on the board of Lawyers Helping Lawyers at the Utah State Bar. Danielle served a six-year term on the Board of
Directors for the ACLU of Utah, which included one year as vice-chair and two years as the chair of the Board. Danielle has volunteered on the Pro Se Calendars at the courts since the inception of that program.
After graduating from the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, Danielle served a one-year fellowship in Washington, D.C., with Georgetown Law and the Law Students for Reproductive Justice working in women’s and immigrants’ rights with the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.
During law school, Danielle was a staff member of the S.J. Quinney College of Law’s Journal of Law and Family Studies where she published two notes. The first, Locking up Children: Lessons from the T. Don Hutto Family Detention Center, explores the emerging trend of detaining immigrant families, including
very young children, in private for-profit detention facilities. The second, Elective Surgery: When Parental and Medical Opinion Supersedes a Child’s Right to Choose, discusses discretionary medical procedures for children. In addition, she competed in the Pace National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition
where she won two best oralist awards.
Danielle served as the student coordinator for the Guadalupe Legal Clinic, a low-income legal clinic, and was a co-founder of Rainbow Law, a free legal clinic focusing on LGBT law in Salt Lake City, and as the president of Out Laws, S.J. Quinney’s queer student group. She also served as a legal intern at the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah (ACLU of Utah) and worked as a law clerk for Strindberg & Scholnick, LLC, an employment discrimination law firm.
Upon graduation from law school, Danielle received the Outstanding Law Graduate of the S.J. Quinney College of Law Award from the National Association of Women Lawyers and a runner up award from the National LGBT Bar Association. Before attending law school Danielle lived in São Paulo, Brazil for one year as a Rotary exchange student, served as an intern at the Brazilian embassy in Washington, D.C., and worked as a senior business analyst in the insurance industry.
Utah State Bar, Legal Well-Being Impact Award, 2024
Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2024
Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2023
Silver in Family Law Lawyer Category (2nd Place), Salt City Best, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2022
Utah Legal Elite by Utah Business Magazine, 2022
Gold in Family Law Lawyer Category (1st Place), Salt City Best, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2021
Mountain States Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2016–2020
Top 10 Attorneys under 40, National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, 2017
Utah Legal Elite by Utah Business Magazine, 2016
Best Lawyer – Salt Lake, by Q Magazine, 2014
Outstanding Law Graduate of S.J. Quinney College of Law from the National Association of Women Lawyers, Spring 2010
National LGBT Bar Association’s Student Leadership Award Runner-Up, 2010
Twice named best oralist in the Pace National Environmental Moot Court Competition, 2010
CALI Award in Family Law Practice, Spring 2010
S.J. Quinney College of Law Leadership Initiative, Spring 2009 and Fall 2009
Salt Lake County Pro Bono Award, Fall 2009
Alonzo Watson, Jr. Award, Fall 2009
Service Scholarship Recipient, Utah Minority Bar Association, Spring 2008
Elective Surgery: When Parental and Medical Opinion Supersedes a Child’s Right to Choose http://epubs.utah.edu/index.php/jlfs/article/view/236/209
Locking up Children: Lessons from the T. Don Hutto Family Detention Center http://epubs.utah.edu/index.php/jlfs/article/view/91/81
Military Benefits for Same-Sex Spouses Advance Equality http://jurist.org/hotline/2012/03/tiger-hawkes-military-benefits.php
Avvo Publication: Lawyer Danielle Hawkes | Featured Attorney Civil Rights
Utah AFCC Fall Conference, Denial of Violence in Family Court: Forging a Path Forward for Family Law, 2023
Organized, moderated, or presented on fifteen (15) separate presentations for judges, 2022–23
Organized or presented on many panels for Lawyers Helping Lawyers, 2021–present
Annual Utah State Court Judge’s Conference, Question and Answer Session on Family Law Issues (moderator), 2022
Utah State Bar, Annual Family Law Seminar, Case Law Update, 2020
Utah State Bar, Annual Family Law Seminar, Alimony: Navigating the Evolving Landscape, 2019
Utah State Bar, CLE, Therapeutic Remedies in Family Law, 2019
Utah Psychological Association Seminar, Custody Evaluations, 2019
Mediation Brown Bag, Special Considerations in Domestic Violence Mediation, 2018
Family Law Bar Section CLE, Alimony and Child Support: Tips and Tricks, 2018
Fall Forum, The Soul of a Lawyer, 2018
Domestic Violence Community Discussion, Domestic Violence Legal Update, 2018
National ACLU Leadership Conference, Building a Leadership Program, 2017
Justice Court Judge’s Spring Conference, LGBT Legal Update, 2017
Community Discussion Group, The 14th Amendment, 2017
Screening and Panel Discussion, The Future of TRAP Laws, 2016
Legal Clinic Training, Trans Legal Update for Practitioners, 2016
CLE Presenter, Family Law Legal Update, 2016
Alternative Dispute Resolution Conference, Mediating with LGBT Clients, 2016
Utah State Bar Fall Forum, LGBT Law Update, 2015
Panelist, Rights of Transgender People, 2014
BYU Local Government Annual Conference, LGBT Law, 2014
Women’s Rights Panel, 2013
Utah State Bar, Young Lawyers Section, Mentoring Marathon Presenter, 2013
Solo Firm Practice, Starting a Solo Practice, 2013
Monthly CLE Presenter, LGBT Employment Law, 2013
Law For Transgender Individuals, 2013
Know Your Rights Seminar, 2013• BYU Law Presentation, LGBT Law, 2013
BYU Local Government Annual Conference, LGBT Law, 2013
GendeRevolution, Legal Name and Gender/Sex Change, 2012
Civil Liberties and Public Policy Annual Conference, Progressive Visions for Immigrant Rights, 2011
Harvard Law School, Embedded Bodies: Reproductive Justice in Social Context, 2010
Utah AFCC Fall Conference 2023, Denial of Violence in Family Court: Forging a Path Forward for Family Law, Plenary Session Presenter
I can't say enough about Dani and her Paralegal Lexi. Dani is the ONLY attorney who listened to my story. She is smart, she knows Family Law inside and out, her litigation skills are top notch and I highly recommend her. Thank you ladies for being my champions, you were professional and personable beyond belief.
– Kathy McCabe
Danielle was so amazing! She was such a blessing in my life. She can be so caring, patient, understanding and brutally honest, all at the right time while being extremely competent and professional. I can’t believe I picked the best attorney to represent me. I am so thankful for all that she’s done and she worked so hard! Worth every dollar.
– Vanessa Broderick
My experience with Danielle Hawkes Esq. was incredibly positive. From the beginning of our engagement, she communicated clearly and honestly. Her guidance, expertise, and approach throughout the process provided for an efficient, effective, and positive outcome for my case.
– Christopher Anderson
I was in distress when I found Dani and she quickly helped me feel comfortable. I appreciated her honesty and straight forwardness. She was always easy to reach and kept me in the loop at all times. recommend Dani and her team to anyone looking for a professional that that isn't afraid to fight for her clients.
– Chandler
