Vanessa Williams

Vanessa is a commercial lawyer with 20 years’ experience, 13 of which have been spent as a partner in leading London law firms. She has established and grown corporate/commercial departments and sat on the management board overseeing the running of the firm with particular responsibility for finance and HR strategy.

She has acted on transactions ranging from multi-million pound international acquisitions to business start-ups. She particularly enjoys working along-side owner managers helping them grow and develop their business.

Vanessa is the author of “Due Diligence: A Practical Guide”, she speaks regularly at national and international conferences on business law and is a visiting lecturer for the University of West of England Law Faculty. She is also a feature blogger for Jordans, the company formation agent and legal publisher, on issues affecting SME businesses.

In addition to her experience in running law firms, Vanessa is herself an entrepreneur. In response to the recession, she set up Across the Board, a practical governance advisory service aiming to maximise performance and minimise risk within organisations. She has run an investment network matching businesses with sources of funding and in collaboration with ActionCoach she helps management teams get “investor ready”. Vanessa is also a director of the Women of the Year Lunch and its associated charity which recognises the achievements of women across all sectors at an annual lunch.

In addition to being a qualified solicitor, Vanessa also holds the Corporate Finance Qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales.

Excello’s London charities and not for profit practice was recognised in Legal 500 2025  recognising the firm’s expertise in advising charities and not for profit organisations.

• ‘Vanessa Williams has provided advice and guidance for a number of years. She has expertise in dealing with charities and has a measured approach to some of the more challenging issues we have been dealing with.’

• ‘Vanessa Williams, head of the charity team, is very knowledgeable and thorough. Vanessa is generous and understanding in her approach, flexible, patient, and honest.’

‘A very experienced team in supporting charities’ under the watchful eye of Vanessa Williams who ‘stands out for her expertise and down to earth approach. Always very knowledgeable and approachable’.