Of Counsel

A graduate in French Law (University of Montpellier I), Quebec Law (University of Montreal) and Common Law (University of Sherbrooke), Vanessa de Happi is a member of Cameroon and Quebec Bars. She began her career as a Compliance Lawyer with one of Canada's largest financial groups (Desjardins Group), then joined one of the most prestigious international business law firms, Norton Rose Fulbright, .

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Vanessa de Happi, combines theoretical training in Business Law acquired through a Master I in Corporate and Business Law, a Master II in International Trade Law (University of Montpellier I) and a Master II in Common Law - Anglo-Saxon Law - (Université de Sherbrooke), with practical experience acquired in companies and in law firms.

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As part of her experience at Norton Rose Fulbright Vanessa de Happi has been involved in major cases in business litigation. She has regularly advised clients on legal and regulatory compliance in the areas of finance and insurance, telecommunications and digital (protection of personal data).

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She has also acquired a solid experience in drafting legislative and regulatory texts during her years of practice in Canada. In fact, she actively participated in the drafting and revision of the Canadian Anti-Spam Law (2015). In addition, as a compliance lawyer with the Insurance subsidiary of Desjardins Group, she was in charge of drafting several company policies (Code of ethics, Internal regulations, Policy on Human Resources Management, Policy on executive expenses, Policy on appointment of members of the Board of Directors, Policy on the protection of personal information, fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, etc.).

After having practiced for several years in Canada, Vanessa returned to Cameroon in 2016 and joined DH Avocats, where she is in charge of the Corporate Law department and OHADA and CEMAC matters within the firm. As such, she supports several foreign exporters in the framework of the protection of their commercial operations with local companies and assists investors, in particular with regard to the implementation of incentive measures on the fiscal and customs plans provided for by Cameroonian legislation governing private investments.