Vanessa Groves is an associate in the Banking & Specialty Finance Group at Cassels. Vanessa holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Prior to law school, she graduated with Distinction from Queen’s University in Political Studies and Global Development. Vanessa spent two years working as a Legislative Aide for Members of Provincial Parliament in the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.
At law school, Vanessa held various research positions and student advocacy roles. She served as a Senior Editor at the Critical Analysis of Law Journal, Researcher at Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights and Co-President of the Black Law Student Association. Vanessa also worked at a legal aid clinic associated with the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Her work focused on Employment Law with a concentration on wrongful dismissals, employment standards violations, human rights claims and public policy. In this role, Vanessa also appeared before the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
During her undergrad, Vanessa sat on the executive committees of the Queen’s Pre-Law Society, Black Academic Society and Female Leadership in Politics. She spearheaded a townhall-style series aimed at creating dialogue about student challenges on campus. Vanessa also has a passion for mental health and supported the operations of a student mental health service.
In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys attending art classes, trying new fitness activities in the city, exploring new cuisines and watching films and musical theatre with her friends and family. Prior to joining Cassels as an associate, Vanessa was an articling student with the firm.
