Danielle Falls

Danielle is the Founder and Managing Partner of Falls Counsel.

Danielle Falls is the founder and managing partner of Falls Counsel. She advises companies across industries such as cosmetics, lifestyle, fine art, and media, providing strategic counsel on corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, and risk management.

Danielle’s practice emphasizes First Amendment and fair use rights, guiding creators, brands, and media companies through content development, rights clearance, and pre-publication review. She also negotiates high-profile commercial deals, including influencer agreements and production contracts. Additionally, she advises on intellectual property strategy, from portfolio management to enforcement.

Prior to founding Falls Counsel, Danielle was Managing Partner of First Gen Law, where she led the firm’s expansion into the consumer, media, and creative sectors. She has previously practiced at boutique firms, including Smith Entertainment Law Group and Jayaram Law.  Danielle began her legal career at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP litigating complex IP and media disputes, representing major broadcasting and music clients such as SiriusXM and Pandora before the Copyright Royalty Board, and defending Getty Images in high-profile copyright actions. Her pro bono work has included advising the Public Art Fund and litigating civil rights cases involving constitutional freedoms.

Before becoming a lawyer, Danielle worked at NBCUniversal, where she handled production legal and regulatory compliance. Danielle is admitted to practice in New York.

Education

• Fordham University School of Law, Evening Division (J.D., 2018); Concentration in information technology, privacy and intellectual property law

• Associate Editor, Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal 

• Program Coordinator, Hansen Intellectual Property Institute

• Privacy Educator, Center on Law and Information Policy Privacy Educator Program, 2016, 2017

• New York University (B.F.A, 2013)

Bar Admissions

• New York

• U.S. Supreme Court

Accolades and Recognition

• Weil, Gotshal & Manges Pro Bono Excellence Award (2019, 2020)

Speaking Engagements

• Guest Lecturer, Business Structure of the Music Industry, New York University, Fall 2024

• Guest Lecturer, Copyright Law for Artists, The Bronx Museum of the Arts 2024 AIM Programme

• Adjunct, First Amendment and the Evolution of Media, Fordham University School of Law, Spring 2024

• Panelist, Investors Pour into Women VC Funds Even as Markets Cool, SxSW 2023 Grit Daily House

• Panelist, Legal Issues in Unscripted TV and Clearances, 34th Annual North American Entertainment, Sports and IP Summit, 2022

• Guest Lecturer, First Amendment and the Evolution of Media, Fordham University School of Law, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

• Panelist, Navigating Digital Content Deals for Film, Television and MORE, 29th Annual

• Cutting Edge Entertainment Law Seminar, 2021

News and Press

• Artnet News quotes Danielle Falls on U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith and its implications on the future of Copyright law. View Article.

• First Gen Law welcome’s new Partner, Danielle Falls in 2023. View Article.

Publications

• Sound Policy and Practice in Applying Doctrines of Secondary Liability Under Copyright and Trademark Law to Online Trading Platforms: A Case Study, Wolters Kluwer Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal, Vol. 32, Jan. 2020

• Supreme Court Resolves Two Copyright Splits, J.D. Supra, March 2019

• Will Re-Done, PAJ Journal, Vol. 36, Jan. 2014

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