Vanessa helps clients who are using technology and data to innovate or disrupt established ways of doing things. Vanessa focusses almost exclusively on advising VC-backed, high-growth businesses on their scale-up journey on a general counsel-like basis, particularly those who are data-rich and using software as a service/platform/marketplace business models.

Vanessa is a technology and data lawyer who has been at the forefront of advising clients using internet-enabled business models for over 20 years. Over the last five years she has focussed on the two biggest growth areas in the digital economy: data platforms and gig/talent platforms.

Vanessa has particular expertise in applying traditional regulatory requirements to new online business models (e.g. data protection, employment, tax, sector-specific regulations). She advises on all aspects of these business models, including structure, contracts, intellectual property and data protection, and holds specialist data protection certifications CIPP/E & CIPM.

She is often embedded in client product teams to ensure compliance by design, and also advises on legal/compliance product strategy, design and user experience, having been embedded for a year in the UK’s first law-tech start-up.

Having registered the company that became Ocado as a trainee, and deciding she wanted to be an ‘internet lawyer’, her career began with advising all of the original big players in the UK (Tesco.com, Amazon, Google, Apple). Her career has mapped business use of internet technology over time: technology development and services, website design and build, e-commerce, mobile, apps, digital media, social media, big data and gig/talent economy.

Vanessa has frequently been singled out by clients in both Chambers UK and The Legal 500 for her dedicated client service and practical approach.

In her spare time, Vanessa is the Chair of the Open Knowledge Foundation, who are pioneers in openness and data literacy, including developing the Open Data Commons licences.

  • I have engaged Vanessa on a number of E-Commerce/Tech projects at all stages of my career at Tesco.com and Wiggle. Vanessa is an unusual character as lawyers, go being both pragmatic and highly commercial. The quality of her output is always excellent, on time, and on budget. She is also great fun to work with and I will engage her services again and again.

    Maddy Turley
    E-Commerce Consultant specialising in Cross Border Trading, Localisation and International Strategy

  • Vanessa is smart, strategic, focused – you want her on your side if it matters. What makes Vanessa stand out is her way of working: she goes the extra mile to understand the business, the people and the commercial motivations. She combines her knowledge of the law, negotiation tactics and the context to help us deliver. No matter how urgent or pressured the situation, Vanessa is cool, calm and friendly. We know she’s got our back!

    Global Head of Procurement
    UK Mobile Operator

  • I have worked with Vanessa for a number of years and found her to be not only technically excellent but also incredibly commercial. She provides solutions to problems and understands the pressures on legal teams to provide innovative solutions. She works in partnership with the business as a trusted advisor.

    Lindsay Beardsell
    Group General, Counsel SuperGroup

Keynote

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Uber loses licence to operate in London Vanessa Barnett
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The ICO’s contribution to the inquiry on the use of algorithms in decision making

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