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Get to Know Danielle

“My job is to make sure your case is handled expertly.  As a manager, I provide our team the support to make sure your case is handled with exceptional care.”

Danielle is the managing partner of the firm.  With a background that is rich in many different legal fields, Danielle is a well-rounded, experienced attorney who has represented clients in cases involving personal injury, education and environmental litigation, family law, employment matters, constitutional rights, and criminal defense.  She is proud to represent her clients with fierce and dedicated legal counsel through jury verdicts.

Danielle began her legal career fighting for employees who had been discriminated against by public and private employers.  Through that work, she learned that when something bad happens at work, it affects every other part of our lives.  Now, as her areas of practice have broadened, when helping clients through any difficult situation, she is mindful of the toll it takes on an individual’s work, personal, and family life.

Advocacy in Education and Sexual Abuse Cases

Danielle brings this approach to clients needing assistance in the school setting.  The daughter of public school teachers and administrators, Danielle studied education at U.C. Berkeley and taught elementary school in New York City.  Through that experience, she believes education is the most important institution in our society, knows when her clients are not being adequately served, and helps them navigate that system.  

Sexual abuse cases are among the most troubling and important cases Danielle handles.  “Few things are more difficult than surviving a sexual assault.  And that healing process is made more difficult when schools, employers or large entities cover up their knowledge that enabled the perpetrator to victimize my clients.  Far too often warning signs are ignored and transgressions swept under the rug.  This willful blindness enables predators to prey on those they teach or manage at work.  That is why we sue these entities: to send a message that they need to do better.”

Environmental Law Experience

Danielle also has extensive environmental law experience, born from a passion for the outdoors and being raised on the Central Coast.  She wrote motions and attended oral argument in front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Team Enterprises, LLC v. R.R. Street & Co., Inc., et al. in an action requesting contribution by various defendants in a groundwater and soil contamination case in the Central Valley of California. Read more about this here. 

A Lifelong Passion for the Law and Partnership with Ron Bamieh

Early in her education, when she was intent on studying biological sciences, Danielle met Ron Bamieh while competing on Buena High School’s mock trial team in Ventura, California.  Her focus soon shifted to the challenge of persuasively presenting a case in the courtroom.  Like her business partner, she is competitive and enjoys the complexities of persuading a judge and jury.  

After taking some time off from environmental litigation and trying cases as a volunteer attorney with the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s office, Danielle joined Ron’s firm in 2013 (then Bamieh & Erickson) and began building Bamieh & De Smeth.  Their lifelong friendship and mutual respect has built a strong partnership.

Danielle's Activites Include

  • Santa Barbara Women Lawyers, 2013 President, SBWL Board of Directors
  • Advisory Committee to the Creeks Division of the City of SB, 2013 Vice-Chair
  • Santa Barbara County Bar Association, Board of Directors
  • Courthouse Legacy Foundation, Trustee
  • Santa Barbara Women Lawyers Foundation, 2012 President
  • Paradise Invitational College Mock Trial Tournament, Co-Director/Host

Areas Of Practice

  • Criminal Law
  • Family Law
  • Personal Injury
  • Employment Law
  • Environmental Law

Bar Admissions

  • California, 2009
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California, 2009
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 2010
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 2010
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2010

Education

  • Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California, 2008 – J.D.
  • University of California, Berkeley, 2003 – B.A.
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Criminal Defense, Civil Expansion, and Leadership

In her criminal cases, Danielle has defended a wide range of charges through jury verdict: including DUIs, misdemeanors, felonies and murder. Links to include:

Danielle has expanded the firm’s civil practice areas, opening an office in Santa Barbara in 2015, and developing the firm’s family law practice. In 2016, Danielle began managing the firm, and in 2019 was named Managing Partner.

Awards, Honors, and Community Commitment

Some of the firm’s top achievements under Danielle’s leadership include being named a Top Tri-County Law Firm by the Pacific Coast Business Times in 2019 and earning Yelp’s “People Love Us on Yelp” Award three years in a row. Danielle has also been widely honored for her legal skill and business leadership. Her recognitions include the Pacific Coast Business Times Top “40 Under 40,” Top 50 Women in Business, and “Who’s Who in Professional Services.” She has also received the Holly Spevak Service Award and been nominated as a Lawyer of Distinction nationwide.

Raised in Ventura, Danielle has a deep love for the Central Coast and a lifelong commitment to her community. She is passionate about giving back through volunteer and leadership work, helping improve the lives of those around her. Danielle takes great pride in offering the residents of her hometown dedicated, compassionate, and personalized legal representation. Her strong connection to the community, paired with her commitment to excellence, has helped shape the firm’s reputation and ongoing success.

Life on the Central Coast and Words to Live By

When Danielle isn’t working you can find her at the beach, on the tennis court, or hiking with her labrador retriever rescue pup, Stella Bella.  She adores her friends and family – including her work family – and feels blessed to enjoy life on the Central Coast.

Something you will hear Danielle say a lot:  “You have to become an expert in your case.”

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“I've been supported by Ms. De Smeth a few times over the past years. She had absolutely become one of those people I count on as a partner. Her communication is clear and she's whip smart. Most important to me is her balance of deep integrity and fierce advocacy. I trust and recommend her and the firm without reservation.”

C. Wilson

Results:

  • $6,800,000 for 10 students abused by their special education teacher
  • $1,100,000 for two students sexually assaulted by their school’s Vice Principal
  • Won “spoofing case” securing restraining order against abusive ex who was harassing under fake web accounts and fake numbers
  • Fought for woman targeted on “slut shaming” websites and obtained orders to get false posts removed from the web
  • No jail time and probation plus eventual dismissal for parent who fled the country with kids in fear for their safety but in violation of a court order (read more)
  • Dismissal of felony resisting arrest charges filed against client who was attacked by police officer & six figure obtained civil settlement on client’s behalf
  • Fought $74,000,000 in penalties sought by District Attorney down to $20,000 settlement for client and obtained order from District Attorney to pay almost $5,000 in fines for discovery violations.
  • Successfully argued for trial judge to cut domestic violence victim sentence of 50 years to life in half for killing of abusive spouse.

Presentations

  • “Protecting Rights, Securing Futures: Education Rights & School Responsibilities en loco parentis,” Ventura Provisors (2024)
  • “Civil Rights Advocacy: California Tool Box,” Santa Barbara County Bar Association (2023)
  • “Depp v. Heard: A 21st Century Domestic Violence Case” Santa Barbara Women Lawyers (2023)
  • “Ethics in Legal Marketing,” Santa Barbara Paralegals Conference (2022)
  • “School Bullying & Racial Discrimination and Harassment,” Santa Barbara (2022)
  • “So You Think You Want to Be a Lawyer?,” California Women Lawyers (2022)
  • “Business & Law,” Santa Barbara County Bar Association (2021) 
  • “Aligning Your Practice with Court Operations,” Santa Barbara Women Lawyers (2020)
  • “Litigation Tools During a Pandemic,” California Women Lawyers (2020)
  • “Understanding Intimate Partner Violence: causes, criminalization and legal concepts,” Women Lawyers of Ventura County (2018)
    https://www.wlvc.org/upcoming-events/understandingintimatepartnerviolence
  • “Elect to Run,” California Women Lawyers (2015-2017)
  • “Run Like a Woman,” Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee (2016)
  • “Trial Preparation From Start to Finish,” Institute for Paralegal Education (2013, 2014)
  • “What the Frick is Fracking?” (2012)
    Santa Barbara County High School Mock Trial Competition attorney scorer & judge training (2014-present)
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Professional Recognitions

Professional Affiliations and Volunteer Work

  • California Women Lawyers, District Governor (2014-2020)
  • Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund, Chair & Director     (2015-2021)
  • American Red Cross of Central California, Director  (2015-2019)
  • Citizens Advisory Committee, Creeks Division, City of Santa Barbara (2011-2018)
  • Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee (2016-2017)
  • Emerge California Program Graduate (2015)
  • Food From the Bar Drive Benefitting Foodbank of Santa Barbara County (2011-2013)
  • Paradise Collegiate Mock Trial Tournament, Founder & Director  (2011-2014)
  • High School Mock Trial, Advisor & Coach (2003-present)

Legal Publications

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Protecting Your Rights, Securing Your Future

Contact Us Call Bamieh & De Smeth on the phone at (805) 643-5555
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