Venessa Drake

Associate

Venessa focuses her practice on construction law, utilizing her diverse litigation background to effectively represent clients across various industries. She has appeared in both state and federal courts, handling cases spanning labor and employment, health care, business litigation, and construction law. 

Prior to joining the firm, Venessa was an associate with another Am Law 100 firm, where she managed and led matters from inception to resolution or judgment, including second-chairing a construction jury trial in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Venessa earned her J.D., cum laude, from Southwestern Law School, where she was a member of the Southwestern Law Review. While in law school, she received the CALI award three times for Secured Transactions, Bankruptcy, and Mergers & Acquisitions, and was the recipient of the Black Women Lawyers Association scholarship. She earned her B.A. from the University of Rochester.

News

Cozen O’Connor’s Construction Group Continues its U.S. Buildout With a Major Expansion into Southern California

March 18, 2024

Marion T. Hack, Luke Nicholas Eaton, John H. Conrad, Cindy J. Lee, Venessa Drake, and Michelle Rosenberg, come to the firm from Troutman Pepper.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Southwestern Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2017
  • University of Rochester, B.A., 2014
  • California
  • U.S. District Court -- Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of California

New York State Bar Association

Professional Women in Construction