Vanessa Singh Johannes is a Chambers USA-ranked trial attorney and former federal prosecutor who represents companies and individuals in corporate and government investigations, white collar defense, complex litigation, and compliance matters.

Vanessa brings more than twenty years of legal experience, significant trial experience, and a diverse perspective to every matter. She began her career as a litigation associate in New York City at an AmLaw 1 global law firm, where she was staffed on “bet-the-company” trials. She then spent a decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, where she first-chaired dozens of jury trials, led hundreds of criminal and civil investigations, and argued before the Eleventh Circuit. Her cases spanned fraud, money laundering, espionage, civil rights, arms trafficking, human and sex trafficking, and murder. That work gave her an insider’s view of how high-stakes federal investigations unfold, along with close working relationships with the FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, Secret Service, and local law enforcement partners.

Since returning to private practice, Vanessa has tried cases as defense counsel, including a two-month healthcare fraud trial on behalf of the CEO of a substance abuse detox facility, giving her the rare perspective of a trial lawyer who has stood on both sides of the courtroom. She handles complex and sensitive matters, including internal investigations and government inquiries into corporate bribery, fraud, and sexual misconduct, and she represents individuals facing serious criminal or civil liability. She also advises boards on best practices and designs compliance and training programs that promote sound corporate governance. Before joining Foley, Vanessa was co-managing shareholder of a national law firm’s Miami office, where she oversaw 75 attorneys and 30 staff members. In 2025, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers named her Managing Partner of the Year.

As an immigrant, the child of hardworking parents, and a proud Miamian, Vanessa is deeply committed to public service and her community. She co-chairs Foley’s Women of Color Affinity Group and serves on the boards of directors of the Federal Bar Association – South Florida Chapter (where she chairs the Events Committee), the Unlocked Foundation (dedicated to bridging the gender wealth gap), and Historic Hampton House (the oldest Green Book hotel and museum in America). Her community contributions have been recognized with the Miami-Dade Education Fund Public School Achievement Award and induction into the Miami Southridge Senior High School Hall of Fame. Outside the office, Vanessa is the proud mother of three young children and can often be found in “all out” mode at an OrangeTheory class.