Vanessa qualified into Bird & Bird's Employment Group in September 2009, having joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2007.  Vanessa undertakes contentious and non-contentious employment work, such as drafting contracts of employment, compromise agreements and employee handbook policies. She has also been involved in employment tribunal proceedings concerning discrimination, whistleblowing, breach of contract, and unfair dismissal.

In addition, Vanessa works on a variety of business immigration matters. She advises clients on the government's points-based system and other immigration-related issues, and has carried out several immigration audits in support of clients’ migrant sponsorship licence applications.