About

Vanessa Hespel-Perin was first offered the opportunity to move in-house to manage the legal affairs of RELX France, the owner of publishers Lexis Nexis, Elsevier Masson and Fricosoft and Reed Expositions. In addition, she was also requested to engage her expertise to create a legal function for Reed MIDEM (under Reed Expositions France) which organises renowned events around the world. Hespel-Perin plays a pivotal role in the launch of events in Asia, Europe and Latin America, while participating in acquisitions when required. In reorganising the team, Hespel-Perin introduced centres of expertise (for example, intellectual property and digital advertising) and single points of contact where each lawyer is appointed interlocutor of different commercial divisions ‘to bring in very short deadlines and more concrete solutions’. As a member of the legal and tax committee of the French Meeting Industry (Union Française des Métiers de l’Événement) UNIMEV Hespel-Perin represents the sector before public authorities and is also a member of the Montesquieu Circle the French association of corporate lawyers. Offering legal protection to Reed, Hespel-Perin is helping overcome the economic threat of individuals and organisations making use of events without registering. She established a broader strategy to raise awareness and is negotiating agreements to privatise key locations defending the interests of both the company and registered professionals. Embracing the legal sector fully, Hespel-Perin also participates in a mentoring program for students who complete the law course and is also on the editorial board of JEM, a French corporate lawyer magazine.