Biglaw

Biglaw Partner Suffered From 'Acute Mental Health Crisis' Before Her Tragic Death

Her husband said that her work had become 'all-consuming.' Our condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues during this extremely difficult time.

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(Image via Getty)

We have some incredibly unfortunate news to report from across the pond, where the results of an investigation into the death of a young Biglaw partner have been released.

Vanessa Ford, 47, was a partner at Pinsent Masons, a highly ranked Biglaw firm in the Global 200. Ford had reportedly been working 18-hour days and even working on holidays in the lead up to the sale of the Everton Football Club to a U.S. private equity firm. Her husband, Oliver, said she was wracked with guilt over missing time with her two children. Ford died tragically a little more than a week after the deal closed. Law360 has additional information:

[Assistant coroner Ian] Potter concluded that Ford was suffering an “acute mental health crisis” and had consumed a “significant” amount of alcohol when she fell onto a railway line in east London and was struck by a train on Sept. 23. But he said he would not record a conclusion of suicide because he could not determine whether she intended to take her own life.

“There is clear evidence to suggest that, at some point shortly before going to the bridge, Vanessa was experiencing some form of mental health crisis and the levels of alcohol that she had consumed, taken together, would have affected her reasoning and her ability to make properly thought-out decisions,” Potter said as he recorded a narrative verdict.

“To that end, I conclude that she did not die by suicide,” he added.

According to British Transport Police detective Stephen Gadd, before her death, Ford left a note at home that expressed “a degree of helplessness.” Shortly before her death, she made a call to a mental health professional discussing her depression and alcohol consumption, but was unable to get an appointment.

Matt Morgan, her manager at the firm, said that Ford hadn’t raised any issues related to stress or work-life balance, and that she was aware of the firm’s mental health helpline. “Nobody had any concerns around the pressure that Vanessa was under because of [the Everton deal],” he said. “She was very positive … she was very proud of the work she had done.”

Laura Cameron, managing partner at Pinsent Masons LLP, said that Ford was “deeply missed.”

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“Vanessa was a talented and inspiring woman, who was highly respected and admired by her colleagues and clients at Pinsent Masons,” she said. “Our thoughts remain with her husband, sons, family and friends after their devastating loss.”

We here at Above the Law would like to extend our condolences to Vanessa Ford’s family, friends, and colleagues during this extremely difficult time.

If you or someone you know is depressed and in need help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) or a lawyer assistance program in your state (don’t be fooled by the name; these programs also provide services to law students). Remember that you are loved, so please reach out if you need assistance.

Pinsent Masons Partner Felt Guilty Over Work Before Death [Law360]
Pinsent Masons Partner Suffered ‘Acute Mental Health Crisis’ Before Death, Coroner Says [Law.com International]

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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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