Bass is MiLW’s 2024 Woman of the Year

Danielle Bass, a partner at Honigman, was chosen by her peers as Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2024 Influential Woman of the Year.

Bass received the honor during MiLW’s annual Influential Women of Law luncheon at Petruzzello’s in Troy. The Class of 2024 honorees voted for the Woman of the Year via secret ballot.

“I’m super shocked because I did not expect this but thank you so much,” she told the audience. “This year has been incredible to me. Coming back to Honigman felt like coming back home after my short hiatus.”

Bass boomeranged back to Honigman after a stint at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where she advised local and international technology pioneers from start-ups to Fortune 50 organizations on transactional matters involving information technology, intellectual property, data and media.

That time away allowed her to grow and prosper in her career, she shared with the event attendees.

“When I left, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Bass said. “I went there and sophisticated my career in ways I could never imagine. I feel smarter and more confident in all of the ways I wished that I was when I was a student at [University of] Michigan [Law School].”

Bass has had an eventful year. This past spring, she negotiated several high-profile content partnership agreements for a data-driven national media network, counseled various clients on the intricacies of music licensing and commercialization, and advised on dozens of multimillion -dollar influencer and other creator deals in the digital media space all while in her third trimester.

“Of particular significance, with a no-frills approach and compelling pragmatic negotiating, I saved a multimillion-dollar deal to provide a mission-critical service to a heavily regulated public client from dying days before giving birth,” she noted.

Her journey to becoming a mother and integrating that with her work left a lasting impression.

“The most powerful moment for me this year was getting to teach while pregnant,” Bass said. “I’ve been showing a lot of the women in my class that you can not only have families, but you can grow families while doing really complex sophisticated work, and teaching the next generation and just, you know, also being a really good mom, which I hope every day that I get to be.”

Achievements and accolades

Bass started her career at Dykema Gossett and joined Honigman in 2017. There she had the opportunity to be the first associate in the newly formed technology transactions practice group. The group, which started with three members, grew to more than a dozen.

She blazed a trail in a complex and fast-moving space, managing a book of business in the six figures as a fifth-year attorney, and earned partnership.

“As part of building out Honigman’s nationally recognized technology transactions practice, where I am the youngest and only woman in the state of Michigan specializing in cutting edge areas of media, entertainment, AI and cloud services for regulated industries like fintech and digital health, I experienced rapid career growth, including becoming the leader of Honigman’s media and entertainment transactions practice,” she said.

Bass added that, as a woman in a predominantly male-dominated industry, she brings a unique perspective and innovative contributions; she challenges traditional norms and hopes to inspire the next generation of professionals in legal and technology sectors.

One achievement she is proud of is establishing and teaching an inaugural practice simulation course on technology transactions at the University of Michigan Law School.

“I crafted a one-of-its kind course with hands-on practical exercises and simulations that provide students with invaluable real-world experience in negotiating and drafting contracts for clients,” she said. “In addition to building this course at the University of Michigan where I just completed my fifth semester teaching, I was asked to teach it at the University of Chicago. Being asked to teach at both the University of Michigan Law School and the University of Chicago Law School, while still in the first decade of my career, exemplifies my commitment to this industry and its respect for the work I do.”

Beyond her legal practice, Bass has taken on leadership roles in various organizations. In 2023, she was elected president of ACG Detroit, the youngest female president across all chapters in the organization’s 40-year history. (See “A sidebar with Danielle Bass, https://milawyersweekly.com/news/2023/10/11/a-sidebar-with-danielle-bass/ .)

“This milestone not only broke barriers but also showcased my leadership capabilities in a predominantly male-dominated domain,” she said. “During the first year of my term, I have already brought fresh perspectives on community building and programming, innovative strategies for membership attraction and retention, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion to the organization.”

Building relationships and bridging gaps

A mentor told Bass to always ensure that those behind her had the benefit of the lessons she learned.

“While my passion for law is unwavering, my dedication to advancing women in the field and fostering the next generation of female attorneys is even more paramount,” she noted. “With women currently representing only 27.76% of all partners (according to the ABA), I believe it’s crucial to demonstrate that shattering glass ceilings while balancing personal and professional aspirations is not only possible but essential.”

Bass is committed to nurturing the next generation of lawyers, mentoring dozens of law students and young lawyers through her involvement with the University of Michigan Law School and other programs.

“Professionally, law is a dynamic and intellectually challenging field that allows me to continuously grow and innovate,” she said. “My role as a trusted advisor, especially in the rapidly evolving fields of technology, media and entertainment, is a source of pride and fulfillment. Practicing law is about more than just legal expertise; it’s about building lasting relationships with clients and mentoring the next generation of attorneys.”

Her upbringing, which she said was severely impacted by her mother’s debilitating illness, stoked her desire to help others.

“I have always believed that you must always put more in than you take out,” Bass said. “Pro bono work has been near and dear to my heart, serving as a means to bridge the gap between the business world and those in need.”

Bass’ dedication to pro bono work particularly helping marginalized communities reflects her mission to give back. Among her pro bono efforts are completing more than two dozen name changes for members of the transgender community, and serving as a volunteer mediator for the Eastern District of Michigan’s Early Mediation Program, which offers pro se prisoners who have filed federal civil rights lawsuits against the Michigan Department of Corrections an alternative to litigation.

“Personally, I think it is a way to channel the empathy and resilience honed during my childhood, instilling in me a sense of responsibility to support those in need,” she said.

Even though she’s still a young attorney herself, Bass shared some advice for lawyers and law students.

“It’s not who you know, but who knows you,” she said. “Being a great lawyer is more than providing quality substantive work product; rather, honing your bedside manner and building relationships with your clients to serve them will pay more dividends than memorizing any opinion or statute.”

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