Overview

“[Vanessa] is driven to finding practical solutions,” is “a very effective negotiator,” and “achieve[s] excellent results.” - Chambers USA

Vanessa Barsanti is a partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation and is a leader of the Firm’s eDiscovery team.

As the member of multiple winning trial teams, Vanessa’s experience extends to all stages of litigation, from drafting a complaint to post-trial briefing. Her focus is on managing the discovery process for matters of all sizes, including designing strategic and efficient collections, reviews and productions, organizing multi-track offensive and defensive written discovery, drafting and arguing successful discovery motions, and taking and defending depositions.

Vanessa has won a number of major discovery victories for her clients, including preventing depositions of in-house counsel, modifying and quashing burdensome third-party subpoenas, protecting privileged documents, and more.

Vanessa works with clients to develop practical, efficient, and defensible discovery strategies, including developing and implementing custom technical workflows to support eDiscovery needs. She is well-versed in sophisticated document and data analysis, making her uniquely situated to assist her clients in addressing large-scale discovery issues.

Vanessa maintains an active pro bono practice, representing a wide array of individuals in need.

More

Thought Leadership

Publications

Building a Better ESI Agreement: Why Customization Matters,” New York Law Journal, January 29, 2021

Recognition

Recognized by Chambers Global for E-Discovery & Information Governance (USA) (2022–2024)

Recognized by Chambers USA for E-Discovery & Information Governance (USA - Nationwide) (2021–2024)

Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. in E-Discovery (2022–2024)

Memberships & Affiliations

The Sedona Conference, Working Group 1

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2010Illinois
  • 2013California

Courts

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of California

Education

  • University of Chicago Law SchoolJ.D.with Honors2010
  • Texas Christian UniversityB.A., Religion & Political Sciencemagna cum laude2007