Bio
Vanessa Matta is an articling student in Gowling WLG’s Ottawa office.
Vanessa graduated from the French Common Law Program (J.D.) at the University of Ottawa in 2024. During her studies, Vanessa served as French Executive Editor of the Ottawa Law Review and as Technoship Fellow at the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC). She also completed an internship with Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada and worked as a research assistant at the Faculty of Law, where her work focused on emerging technology issues. Following her first and second year, Vanessa assisted the in-house legal team at one of Canada’s largest construction companies, gaining experience in corporate-commercial work and litigation matters.
Prior to entering law school, Vanessa earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Ottawa and was actively involved on campus in several leadership roles. She is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with experience in structural design, project management, and contract administration for projects across Canada.
Vanessa is an active member of the community and remains dedicated to mentoring students in both STEM and law. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of ELTOC, a not-for-profit organization providing ESL lessons to newcomers, and volunteers with the National Academy of Engineering to support girls interested in engineering.
In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys drawing realistic portraits, discovering new restaurants, and weightlifting.