About
Vanessa has more than 17 years of experience in advising international and high net worth clients, professionals and homemakers in all family and matrimonial matters. She deals with all issues arising from the breakdown of a relationship, including separation/divorce, financial arrangements, and children disputes.
Vanessa’s expertise lies in dealing with cases which have an international perspective, cases with complex financial issues, and high conflict disputes involving children. A large part of Vanessa’s practice involves international relocation cases and High Court cases of child abduction.
As a qualified Mental Health First Aider, Vanessa supports clients who are experiencing emotional distress or dealing with high conflict litigation. A significant number of her cases involve clients with mental health difficulties, couples from different cultures, same-sex couples, and cases where there is domestic abuse and/or addictions.
Vanessa also has extensive experience in advising on and drafting prenuptial/postnuptial agreements and separation agreements. This is an area of practice which requires sensitivity and tact and often requires an understanding of the interrelation with European marital regimes and marriage contracts.
Vanessa is a native French speaker and can conduct meetings in French. She is the 'go to' family lawyer in Hong Kong for French clients going through Hong Kong divorce proceedings.
Where appropriate, Vanessa is committed to resolving disputes outside of the Court and is a keen advocate of alternative methods of dispute resolution, including mediation and private FDRs. Many of her cases settle well before reaching a trial. She proposes creative yet sensible solutions to clients and is known for her compassion, efficiency and energy and for always going the extra mile for her clients.
Vanessa has been recognised as a 'Recommended Family & Divorce Lawyer (Hong Kong)' by Doyle's Guide in 2024 and 2025. She is named as an 'Up and Coming Lawyer' in Chambers and Partners High Net Worth 2025 and a 'Next Generation Partner' in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Private Client and Family in Hong Kong for 2024 and 2025. Her expertise has been featured in various publications, including Expat Living, Gafencu, Little Steps Asia, Hong Kong Lawyer, Hong Kong Economic Times, Around DB, and Hong Kong Animal Post. Vanessa has also featured as a guest speaker on RTHK Money Talk and presented to the New York State Bar Association.
Vanessa grew up and was educated in Belgium and subsequently studied in London and Paris. She is admitted to practise in England & Wales (and Hong Kong.
Experience
- Successfully representing a mother in an international relocation application (IB and MCR [2025] HKFC 42).
- Successfully securing the return of children from Hong Kong to France pursuant to the Hague Convention on Child Abduction (FR and MF [2021] HKCFI 1557).
- Representing a husband in proceedings in the High Court to set aside an ancillary relief order made under mistake, duress and procedural irregularity.
- Representing a wife against a high-profile husband in a big money case involving significant non-disclosure running to hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Obtaining child support and final orders in proceedings with an absent father and successfully defending proceedings commenced by the father in Dubai (KLT also known as KLP and CP [2021] HKFC 102).
- Representing a mother in high conflict litigation involving allegations of child abuse.
- Representing a father in long-standing litigation regarding care arrangements for his daughter where the mother suffers from significant mental health challenges including DID and Complex PTSD.
