Vanessa A. Silke

Vanessa A. Silke’s practice encompasses all areas of real estate development, real estate law, and water, energy, and natural resources law. Vanessa’s focus is on traditional real estate acquisition and disposition, leasing, environmental compliance, water rights, land use, development and zoning. Vanessa has represented public and private entities in a number of multi-faceted property rights transactions. Many of these transactions were the first of their kind for the State of Nebraska, requiring extensive due diligence, litigation, new legislation, and coordination with a number of administrative agencies. Vanessa has represented governmental and private interests in administrative and judicial proceedings involving natural resource allocation and land-use decisions at the state and federal level, and ensuring compliance with state and federal environmental laws. Vanessa has built productive relationships among clients, technical consultants, agency decision-makers, potential project partners, and legislators on behalf of her clients.

Vanessa also maintains an active practice as a lobbyist, drafting legislation, testifying before legislative committees, and negotiating with stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes for clients.

Vanessa attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she received her B.A. in political science and attended the University of Nebraska College of Law, where she graduated with distinction, was a member of the Moot Court Board, completed areas of concentrated study in Real Estate Transactions and Natural Resources Law, and received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Secured Transactions. Vanessa began her legal career with a boutique water law and public power firm located in Lincoln, Nebraska.