Associate Vanessa Ajagu Named One of Business Insider’s 9 Best-Dressed Lawyers of New York

In the Media  |  September 10, 2026

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“Law has a dress code,” says Business Insider. “But a new class of lawyers is finding room for a little more zhuzh.”  That class includes Gibson Dunn associate Vanessa Ajagu, hailed by the publication as one of the 9 Best-Dressed Lawyers of New York.

Vanessa says she purchases many items from Nigeria when she returns home for holidays, including demi-couture suits from Ohlanna bu Zikora, whose founder won the top prize in Nigeria’s version of “Project Runway.” For the office, she builds an outfit around one anchor piece, adding a printed scarf, statement earrings, or a dash of color. In court, she turns the volume down with a plain black suit so her outfit doesn’t become the conversation. “The client comes first,” she says.

Vanessa is a member of our Litigation Practice Group. In addition to being a fashionista, she maintains an active pro bono practice focused on appellate advocacy and the rights of domestic violence survivors, teaches legal writing at Columbia Law School, and sits on the board of several community organizations.