Ep.1/ Vanessa's Story: Becoming A Leading Black Woman Partner
interested in corporate law? unsure what working in corporate law entails? listen to this episode for all the advice.
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Welcome to The Legal Gist's first episode! Learn about Vanessa Jackson's inspiring journey to become a Corporate Finance Partner at Davis Polk in NYC. Listen to her helpful advice on overcoming imposter syndrome as a woman of color in the legal field, in addition to learning if corporate law is right for you. Learn how her diverse perspective has informed her legal experience and the words she would have told herself at the beginning of her legal journey.
Vanessa Jackson
Partner, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Vanessa Jackson is a partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, practicing in the Finance group. She represents borrowers and lenders on a broad range of finance transactions, including leveraged and investment-grade acquisition financings, spinoffs, debtor-in-possession financings and exit financings.
Vanessa joined Davis Polk in 2012 and was elected partner in 2019. She received her B.S. in Economics from Duke University in 2009. In 2012, she received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and served as Managing Editor of the Columbia Journsal of Race and Law.
She serves as co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee and is a member of the firm’s Black Affinity Group Steering Committee. Vanessa is vocal advocate for the firm’s efforts relating to the advancement of diverse lawyers, the promotion of equitable systems and the fostering of an inclusive culture.
Vanessa has been profiled in multiple publications (including Law.com and the Black In-House Counsel 2021 Annual Report) to discuss not only her practice but also her efforts to increase representation and ensure equitable access to opportunities. In 2022, she was featured in Savoy Magazine, where she discussed what characterizes DEI at Davis Polk and the firm’s recent DEI initiatives.
The Partnership for New York City named Vanessa to its 2022 Class of David Rockefeller Fellows and Crain’s New York Business named Vanessa to its 2022 “Notable Women in Law” list. In February 2022, Vanessa was named among Savoy Magazine’s “Most Influential Black Lawyers.” IFLR1000 also named Vanessa among its Women Leaders 2022 – Americas.
