Vanessa counsels transportation and logistics industry service providers and commercial services users, steering them through legal and regulatory challenges during the movement of goods throughout the supply chain across the nation and throughout the world.
Representing U.S companies and global enterprises, Vanessa negotiates and structures contracts tailored to each transaction and her clients’ operational needs, overall business goals and risk profile. She counsels companies across the supply chain, assists with international transactions and ensures her clients meet their trade compliance obligations as they transact business globally.
Vanessa advises international shippers on tariffs, importing goods into the U.S. from foreign trade partners such as China, Mexico and Canada and exporting goods to other countries, such as Vietnam, India and China, ensuring her clients are complying with applicable import/export controls, customs regulations and trade restrictions.
Clients also rely on Vanessa for guidance on buying and selling companies. She conducts transportation, logistics and trade-related diligence of mergers and acquisitions targets, helps resolve cross-border disputes, advises on pre- and post-close regulatory obligations and represents clients in government audits and investigations. Additionally, she helps clients obtain, convey and update licenses and permits, counsels operating authorities regarding regulated businesses and advises on corporate governance issues.
Fluent in English and Spanish and able to read French and Portuguese, Vanessa is an invaluable resource who can transact with Spanish-speaking clients and opposing parties on operations and transactions in their native language, translate legal documents and provide culturally sensitive advice. Her skills have proven crucial in navigating the complex legal landscapes of cross-border trade.
Before joining Benesch, Vanessa earned an MBA and was a co-founder and co-president of a startup transport and logistics company where she focused on strategy. She brings an entrepreneur’s operator’s perspective, advising on legal, regulatory and business matters based on real-world, firsthand experience.
With long-established close ties with industry players, Vanessa stays current on the issues, challenges, regulatory changes and legal considerations impacting her clients and the sector.
Representative Experience:
- Represented a landlord in leasing an entire six-story building (214,560 rentable square feet of premises) in Northbrook, Illinois, to the healthcare industry’s largest medical-surgical product manufacturer and supply chain provider.
- Represented a private equity buyer in its acquisition of a wholesale distributor of pipes, valves and fittings.
- Represented Loar Holdings Inc., a diversified manufacturer and supplier of niche aerospace and defense components, in its acquisition of Applied Avionics, Inc., a manufacturer of highly engineered avionics interface solutions catering to the aviation industry, valued at $385 million.
- Successfully defended a client importer accused of unlawful importation to resolve a civil penalty case before U.S. Customs and Border Protection with over $200,000 in cost savings.
- Represented a global leader in labeling and packaging materials in its acquisition of a leading provider of sports apparel customization & retail experience technology.
Representative Experience
- Represented a Landlord for the lease of an entire six-story building (214,560 rentable square feet of premises) in Northbrook, Illinois, to the healthcare industry’s largest medical-surgical product manufacturer and supply chain provider.
- Represented a private equity buyer in its acquisition of a wholesale distributor of pipes, valves, and fittings.
- Represented Loar Holdings Inc., a diversified manufacturer and supplier of niche aerospace and defense components, in its acquisition of Applied Avionics, Inc., a manufacturer of highly engineered avionics interface solutions catering to the aviation industry, valued at $385 million.
- Successfully defended a client importer accused of unlawful importation to resolve a civil penalty case before U.S. Customs and Border Protection with over $200,000 in cost savings.
- Represented a global leader in labeling and packaging materials in its acquisition of a leading provider of sports apparel customization & retail experience technology.
