Vanessa Cantley has experienced great success representing injured people in Kentucky and Indiana state and federal courts. For example, she recently represented the plaintiffs in a products liability case in which, after a two week jury trial, the jury returned a $6.2 million dollar verdict in favor of her clients. Vanessa also has valuable legal experience from the defense perspective. She clerked for Frost Brown Todd, LLC, the largest defense firm in the region, while in law school.

Vanessa earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville, graduating with honors. While in law school, she was elected by the law school student body to serve as their President. She was a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association mock trial team and the National Moot Court Team and earned the highest grade in her class for Trial Practice. Vanessa also founded the nation's first Student Bar Foundation, which now serves as a model to other law schools nationwide.

Vanessa holds two Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees, one in Psychology and another in Sociology, from Bellarmine University where she graduated with honors. While at Bellarmine, Vanessa was a four-year member of the American Mock Trial Association program. She earned top attorney in the nation honors for two years, and was a member of the National Championship Team during her senior year. On the road to a national championship, her team bested many elite programs such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, and over 300 other schools.

Vanessa was recently certified as a life member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum of the Top Trial Lawyers of America.  The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is recognized as one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts, awards and settlements. The organization was founded in 1993 and there are approximately 3000 members located throughout the country.  Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.

Vanessa’s litigation practice focuses on personal injury actions including automobile accidents, wrongful death, defective products, professional malpractice, vicious dog attack injuries, and employment discrimination and wrongful termination cases. She is one of a select number of Kentucky attorneys elected by her colleagues to serve on the Board of Governors of the Kentucky Justice Association.  Also known as Professor Cantley to her students, Vanessa is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Louisville School of Law. She teaches a course called Civil Litigation Skills to senior law students.

Vanessa grew up in southern Indiana and currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband (and law partner) Shawn Cantley, and their two sons. You can contact Vanessa directly to talk about a legal issue at (502) 587-2002 or by email at vanessa@bccjlaw.com.

A few notes from Vanessa's clients:

• I just wanted to say how much we appreciated the skill and knowledge you showed on Monday and all the work you've put in before Monday.  It was obvious a lot of time and work went into our case.  You can't understand how it feels to have someone fight for justice on our child's behalf. Thank you is not enough but we do thank you!  We want you to know how grateful we are to you for what you are doing for Stephen’s memory, for us, and for the children in this county.” – Sheila P.

• “I can't thank you enough for your thoughtfulness and your concern. It is people like you that make me believe that there is still hope for this world.” – Steve G.

• “Thank you for caring when . . . at the end of the day, I know you didn’t even have to.  You were my voice when I could not speak.  You were my words when I had way too much to say, and you were my beautifully spoken, educated mind when I felt so dumb.  And you put all my broken pieces back together.  And yes, for that, for you, and all that I’m forever so grateful.” – Jessica C.

• “We would like to thank you for everything you have done for us.  We were actually able to give our children a wonderful Christmas.  You will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers for all you have done for us.”  Teresa and Donnie W.

• “You’ll never know how much you have had such an impact on my life.  In such a great way, too.  You are a very special person and I feel honored to have you as my attorney and friend.  Thanks you more than you know.”  Angie S.