Venessa Drake

Venessa Drake represents general contractors, owners, and engineers in construction disputes and project counseling across public and private works. Her matters involve power facilities, environmental remediation, school facilities, mixed-use developments, and heavy civil projects. She also handles business and insurance disputes and labor and employment matters in state and federal courts, and defends health care institutions and practitioners in litigation and investigations.

In construction matters, Venessa handles contract drafting and negotiations; scheduling and delay claims; mechanics liens; stop payment notices; licensure questions; defect claims; and claims resolution. She reviews complex contracts for compliance, prepares demand and claim letters and pleadings, and manages disputes from early strategy through trial preparation, arbitration, and mediation.

Her broader litigation work includes class actions, wage-and-hour and PAGA claims, insurance defense, and business litigation. She takes and defends depositions, argues motions, and drafts dispositive briefs. She second-chaired a seven-day jury trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court and conducted the direct examination of a key witness, which ended in a unanimous verdict.

Concentrations

• Construction transactions and litigation
• Construction contracts
• Architectural, engineering, design, and consultant contracts
• Construction contract administration and risk management
• Construction dispute resolution