Danielle B. Hardy

Entertainment Associate
Loeb & Loeb LLP
@esquiredanielle

What were some of your professional highlights of 2025?

1. I made a big career pivot from being a record label attorney to becoming artist and big law talent attorney

2. I helped negotiate several multi million dollar deals for clients

3. I have supported a range of talented artists and entertainers from the biggest names in the business to the new and emerging artists at the start of their music careers.

What are some of your favorite shows/films/podcasts of 2025?

My favorite podcast is Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams. My favorite shows this year are (mix of old and new): Bridgerton, Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and Orange County, 90 Day Fiancé, Living Single, and A Different World. My favorite films are Wicked, Dreamgirls, and Beyond the Lights.

What is your theme word or phrase for 2026?

Ascension.

What is the best professional advice you've ever received?

Don’t subscribe to the narrative of keeping your head down and not making waves. Advocate for yourself. Go after every opportunity you want. You drive your own career, don’t let someone else take the wheel.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Mentorship has always been important to and it has played a pivotal role in my life and career. Some of my mentors were the first black attorneys I ever saw, which is why diverse representation in the legal profession is so crucial. As the first attorney in my family, I remember the difficulties I endured navigating the law school application process, law school, internships, and the bar. I decided to launch my mentorship organization, Pursuing the Esquire, which supports rising attorneys of color get to and through law school through mentorship and access. I vowed to pay it forward and have been for the last 5 years. I’m grateful to those who have invested in me and my career and I look forward to continuing to support and welcome those coming behind me.