Danielle Blackhall is a practicing attorney and distinguished legal executive with extensive experience in labor and employment law, workforce optimization, and litigation avoidance strategies. As Chief Employment Counsel at The Scripps Research Institute, she leads the organization’s employment strategy and advises executive leadership and the Board of Directors on best practices for internal risk mitigation, executive compensation, compliance, and personnel management. She is a trusted strategic partner who enjoys thinking creatively to shape practical employment policies and practices that support key organizational goals and objectives, while fostering a culture of accountability, legal integrity, and operational excellence.
Danielle’s expertise spans litigation avoidance, conflict management, workforce structuring, internal and external investigations, employment compliance and reporting, and personnel management. As Chief Employment Counsel for a world-renowned biomedical research institute she generates significant cost savings by reducing the Institute’s reliance on outside counsel and related costs, resolving pre-litigation employment demands efficiently for cents on the dollar, and successfully defending against employment practices liability (EPL) claims. Her legal background and proactive approach to stakeholder engagement, practical policy implementation, and employee engagement supports Scripps Research’s commitment to non-discrimination and ensuring a workplace that is inclusive, legally compliant, and conducive to academic and scientific advancement and excellence.
Prior to her current role, Danielle served as Interim Vice President of Human Resources in addition to her Labor and Employment Counsel position. In this capacity she spearheaded a people-first strategy to optimize employee engagement, refined compensation structures and recruitment practices consistent with industry standards and pay transparency requirements, and developed leaders through individual coaching, training, and support. Her ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels while integrating legal compliance with HR innovation has resulted in a cohesive and high-performing workplace culture, directly supporting Scripps Research’s ability to recruit and retain top talent consistent with its mission of scientific excellence.
Danielle’s legal career reflects a strong foundation in employment law and litigation and a commitment to ethical advocacy on behalf of her clients. Before joining Scripps Research, she spent nearly seven years as a management side employment defense attorney at Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP (now Quarles & Brady LLP), where she counseled private, non-profit and government agency clients across industries regarding best practices, conducted mandatory trainings, and successfully defended employers against myriad agency claims and civil disputes. Her expertise in wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment claims, accommodations, whistleblower and retaliation claims, Title IX compliance, and workplace investigations make her a sought-after advisor and trainer for executive leadership teams.
Earlier in her career, Danielle served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Michael M. Anello, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, where she managed hundreds of cases from product liability and civil rights violations, to patent infringement and invalidation claims. This experience provided Danielle invaluable insight into the judicial decision-making process and intricacies of court management. Before clerking, Danielle worked as a civil litigation attorney at Baker & McKenzie, one of the world’s leading international law firms.
As a highly regarded speaker and corporate trainer, Danielle has worked with countless executives across industries honing their communication and management skills to drive success, and presented at numerous industry conferences, including the California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA) and the Public Interest Advocacy Clinic on a variety of topics. Her thought leadership on dynamic topics such as employee rights, complaint resolution, disability accommodations, employee mobility, compliance, and performance management makes her a valuable resource for employers of all types and sizes.
Danielle holds a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. With a reputation for accountability, sound judgment, and strategic leadership, she continues to shape employment practices that support innovation, compliance, and organizational success at Scripps Research.
Character
Danielle Blackhall is a principled and solutions-oriented legal executive who upholds integrity, fairness, and professionalism in every aspect of her work, ensuring that organizations’ employment policies and workplace culture align with corporate objectives, ethical and legal standards.
Knowledge
With a deep expertise in employment law, litigation management, and human resources strategy, Danielle leverages her extensive legal background to navigate complex workplace challenges, mitigate risks, and drive compliance at all levels of an organization.
Strategic
Danielle is a forward-thinking leader who integrates legal insights with business objectives to craft innovative policies, resolve disputes efficiently, and foster an inclusive, high-performing workplace that aligns with institutional goals.
Communication
A skilled communicator and trusted advisor, Danielle effectively translates complex legal concepts into actionable guidance, collaborates with executive leadership, and delivers impactful training and presentations to enhance workplace policies and compliance.
