Yewei “Vanessa” Wang focuses her practice on insurance defense and coverage litigation. She represents insurers and insureds in automobile liability, personal injury, and premises liability matters through all phases of civil litigation. She also handles employment and commercial disputes involving wrongful termination, discrimination, and wage-and-hour claims.

Vanessa earned her J.D. from the University of California, Irvine School of Law and LL.M.s from the University of Southern California and Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Where are you from?
I was born in Nanjing, China, and I spent much of my childhood in a small rural community with my grandparents. Those roots shaped my work ethic and my perspective. Today, I’m proud to call California home.

What was your first job?
My first legal role was in-house at a pharmaceutical company in the medical aesthetics space. It gave me early exposure to problem-solving in a regulated environment by reviewing contracts, supporting compliance, and helping the business move forward with thoughtful risk management.

Do you have any hidden talents and/or unique hobbies?
I love cooking for my family and friends. Nothing resets my brain like planning a meal and making it from scratch. Outside the kitchen, I’m happiest outdoors. I enjoy surfing and skiing when I can, and I also enjoy hunting as a way to stay grounded in nature and conservation.

What is on your bucket list?
I would love to take a cross-country train trip with my husband when we retire and see more of the world that way. I also want to keep exploring new surf spots.

Why did you decide to become an attorney?
Growing up, I realized how “unwritten rules” can limit people’s opportunities, often before they even have the chance to speak. I was drawn to the law because it values clarity, fairness, and accountability. Becoming an attorney felt like a way to advocate with purpose, to focus on facts, to solve real problems, and to help people and businesses navigate high-stakes situations with confidence.

What does a typical workday look like for you?
No two days are the same, which is one of the things I enjoy most. A typical day includes coordinating with clients and colleagues, prioritizing deadlines, reviewing records and evidence, drafting motions and discovery, preparing for depositions or mediations, and staying proactive about case status.

Why did you choose your areas of practice?
I enjoy insurance defense because it is fast-paced, fact-driven, and highly strategic. On the defense side, I constantly balance investigation, analysis, and practical problem-solving while working closely with clients as a member of the Tressler team. Additionally, I appreciate that this practice rewards thorough preparation—when you know the details of the case and the law inside and out, you can either guide the case toward an efficient resolution or be prepared to take it to trial or arbitration if necessary.

What do you like most about Tressler?
The people and the culture. It genuinely feels so collaborative, more like a team than a hierarchy. I’ve been trusted with meaningful responsibility, and I have had strong mentorships that helped me grow quickly. I’m grateful to work in an environment where people are supportive, direct, and invested in each other’s success.

What are you most proud of, professionally and/or personally?
Professionally, I’m proud of building a legal career across diverse cultures and environments, and of earning trust through consistent work and reliability. Personally, I’m most proud of being a mother and setting an example for my child about resilience, discipline, and growth, no matter where we start.