Venessa Drake

Associate

Recent News:

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 250 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in Best Lawyers in America 2026 Edition

Best Lawyers selected more than 250 Cozen O'Connor lawyers from 26 of the firm's US offices for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

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

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 250 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in Best Lawyers in America 2026 Edition

August 21, 2025

Best Lawyers selected more than 250 Cozen O'Connor lawyers from 26 of the firm's US offices for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

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.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

2025 Annual Construction Law Update

May 22, 2025 - Webinar

Practice Areas

Education

  • Southwestern Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2017
  • University of Rochester, B.A., 2014

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," 2026

  • 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