Los Angeles-based attorney Danielle Fredericks took her first painting class at age 4 and performed in her first play in elementary school at age 5. At the time, merging her scholastic and artistic pursuits was not a problem. But as any artist discovers, these worlds become much more complicated and integrated as they develop.

As she got older, Danielle was not willing to decide between her love of the arts and her proclivity towards academics—she was determined to do it all. She produced and acted in numerous theater productions while working part-time and studying full-time at UCLA. She wrote her undergraduate thesis on the connection between 19th century poet Lord Byron and 20th century rapper Tupac Shakur. In keeping with her dual nature, Danielle pursued a joint JD/MBA degree from Loyola Marymount University; all the while live performance painting with local poets and musicians.

Danielle concentrated her studies at Loyola Law School on the protection of artists’ and independent business owners: intellectual property rights, including First Amendment law, copyright, trademark, patent, and Internet technology law. Her graduate business coursework focused on international marketing and Danielle’s joint thesis merged the concentrations of both degrees: discussing legal repercussions and marketing strategies in the face of piracy in the videogame industry in the United States and Southeast Asia.

Danielle’s deep interest and commitment to social justice and Human Rights drove her to further focus on civil rights litigation and issues of discrimination. Danielle was a summer associate at the Anti-Defamation League working in the civil rights department on pressing civil justice issues including the landmark gay rights case Lawrence v. Texas (2003), when she wrote a published response to Justice Scalia’s dissent. She also advocated for ADL clients who believed they were victims of discrimination. Danielle’s dedication to social justice coupled with a love of travel propelled her to go to Costa Rica to study human rights law, environmental law, and their intersection in the rights of indigenous peoples at the International Court of Justice. Additionally, Danielle explored issues of social and environmental justice in business; working with an LMU business school dean to research the effect of labor and environmental policies propagated by large US agri-business firms on indigenous communities, and the countervailing influence of more protective US labor and environmental standards, culminating in a published academic paper.

Danielle took this training to Quinn Emanuel, LLP, one of the largest and best-regarded law firms in the country, where she has worked rigorously for 9 years practicing intellectual property law, antitrust law, and general business litigation with various-sized corporate clients.

ArtVenture Law is the fusion of all of these driving forces. Merging her passion for the arts and social justice with her legal and business training and experience; Danielle hopes to provide legal services to artists and independent business owners, those who are often unsure of their rights and need attorneys, but do not know how to access the legal system. Danielle believes she can build a bridge between the legal and artistic communities based on the guiding principles that ignite both justice and the creative spirit.