Vanessa is a Partner in our Health Law Team with extensive experience in handling complex medical negligence claims.
Experience & expertise
Vanessa’s career spans civil litigation, coronial inquests, Ahpra matters, indemnity issues, disciplinary matters and class actions intersecting with health treatment.
Vanessa has over 30 years of experience representing healthcare providers. She has experience leading high-performing legal teams across multiple jurisdictions and is highly regarded by clients for her clear, calm and pragmatic advice. She regularly represents clients in high-value complex claims, including cases involving catastrophic injuries such as brain trauma.
Drawing on her broad experience, Vanessa provides clear and commercial advice across all stages of litigation and regulatory proceedings.
Work highlights
Vanessa’s experience includes:
- Acting on instructions from the insurer of public hospitals in Victoria, a leading medical defence organisation, private hospitals and pathology services
- A wide variety of cases including multi-party catastrophic claims such as cerebral palsy with significant care claims, paraplegia, wrongful birth, plastic surgery, paediatrics, obstetric and gynaecology, orthopaedic, psychiatric, and bariatric surgery amongst others
- Acting for healthcare providers in class actions.
Professional background
Master of Laws
1996, University of Houston
Bachelor of Laws
1993, University of Western Australia
Law Institute of Victoria
