完整简历
Vanessa Reakes is a partner in the firm’s Vancouver office and a leading defence counsel in complex, multi-party litigation. Her practice centres on high-stakes professional indemnity, wrap-up liability, and directors’ and officers’ matters, where legal, financial, and reputational risks intersect.
Vanessa acts for insurers, professionals, and corporate clients across diverse industries, including insurance, engineering, architecture, construction, finance and manufacturing. She is regularly retained as coverage and monitoring counsel on sophisticated mandates involving corporate governance issues, professional negligence, and large-scale project disputes, providing strategic guidance on litigation risk and case management.
Recognized for her command of both litigation and regulatory frameworks, Vanessa appears before courts at all levels in Canada, and frequently represents clients in administrative hearings, disciplinary matters, arbitrations, and mediations. Her work often involves navigating complex technical subject matter and multi-stakeholder dynamics, ensuring clients receive clear, actionable direction in contentious environments.
A former North American Board Member of Clyde & Co and an Adjunct Professor in the University of British Columbia’s civil engineering program, Vanessa brings a practical, industry-informed perspective to her practice. She is consistently acknowledged by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and Best Lawyers for her excellence in insurance law, product liability, construction law, professional liability, and directors’ and officers’ liability.
Vanessa’s approach is grounded in rigorous analysis, strategic insight, and principled advocacy. She anticipates challenges before they arise, builds solutions that reflect the broader business and regulatory context, and leads negotiations and proceedings with clarity and conviction. Clients trust her to protect their interests in the most demanding disputes to deliver results that matter.
Admissions
Education
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LLB, University of Manitoba, 2008
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BA, Simon Fraser University, 2004
Professional Associations
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Fellow, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers (May 2024)
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Member, Civil Litigation Section, Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch)
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Member, Insurance Section, Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch)
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Member, Construction Section, Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch)
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Member, Vancouver Bar Association
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Member, Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia
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Member, Canadian Construction Women
Community Involvement
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Board Member, Board of Governors Langara College, BC Provincial Appointment, 2014
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Board Member, Mole Hill Housing Society, 2015
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Adjunct Lecturer, UBC Engineering Department, 2010 – present
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Contributor, Real Estate Council of BC Legal Update
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Contributor, Continuing Education, BC Builders Lien Practice Manual
Speaking Engagements
