Vanessa M. Ruggiero

Vanessa is an associate in the Professional Liability Department. She focuses her practice on employment law, school leaders' liability, accountants' liability and architectural, engineering and construction defect litigation. In the area of school leaders’ liability, Vanessa is experienced in defending educational institutions, including school districts and charter schools, in cases alleging Title IX claims and in due process matters alleging violations of the IDEA.  

Prior to joining Marshall Dennehey, Vanessa worked at a full-service law firm where she primarily practiced in the areas of employment law and civil litigation.

Vanessa earned her juris doctor from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law in 2022. Drawn to litigation early in her academic legal career, she was a member of the Villanova Law Moot Court Board and served as the Board's Chairperson during the 2021-2022 academic year. In addition, Vanessa was a semi-finalist in the 2020 Theodore Reimel Moot Court Competition. 

While in law school, Vanessa gained experience as a judicial law clerk in Northampton County Court of Common Pleas.  She also served as a legal intern for Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts as well as for Villanova's Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation.

Vanessa graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics, with honors, and a minor in Political Science.