Vanessa is specialized in (cross border) internal investigations, criminal and regulatory enforcement, and business conduct. She advises and represents organisations on regulatory, enforcement, compliance and integrity matters. Vanessa has a broad and longstanding experience in conducting multi-jurisdictional (internal) investigations ranging from financial economic crime (e.g. bribery, fraud, AML) to (sexual) harassment and integrity issues. She is a trusted and strategic advisor to management and board, and assists companies in setting up or enhancing their business conduct/compliance and speak up/whistleblowing frameworks.
Vanessa was trained as a lawyer at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek and involved in the setting up of the Regulatory & Criminal Enforcement practice. She worked at Heineken International where she was responsible for refreshing and implementing the global code of business conduct, speak up procedure, and internal investigations.
Vanessa is co-founder and chair of the board of the Complex Care United Foundation (2CU - www.2cu.nu) for people with very profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (Zeer Ernstig Verstandelijk en Meervoudig Beperkten) like her son and their families.
She is member of the steering committee "Wij zien je Wel", an assignment of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and chair of the board of advisors of het Jeroen Pit Huis (transitional care unit being developed). Vanessa is regularly asked as public speaker.
She is a member of the Dutch Bar Association and member of the editorial board of the Dutch magazine Tijdschrift voor Bijzonder Strafrecht & Handhaving.
The unique combination of experiences make Vanessa a one of kind lawyer and advisor who well understands the inter company and stakeholder dynamics both in the private and (semi)public field.