VTA Tassin
A pioneering international law firm since 2016led by Att. Dr. Dr. Tassin Campanella “Attorney of the Ocean”
VTA Tassin views international law as a dynamic force, extending beyond mere negotiation, drafting and dispute resolution to encompass impactful implementation. It offers a multitude of keys to support stakeholders in effecting enduring changes to guide economic, social and environmental developments.
Addressing these imperatives, VTA Tassin offers unparalleled advisory, dispute settlement, representation and capacity-building services to a global international audience, ranging from public and private actors.
With a distinctive proficiency in operating within a multidisciplinary and multicultural environments, particularly on intricate scientific and technical subjects, the law firm has earned a strong reputation for delivering unique services in international law and policy. VTA Tassin takes pride in making international law not only accessible but also of significant business value to the private sector and civil society, extending beyond traditional State-centric applications.
Att. Dr. Dr. Virginie Tassin Campanella
Founder & Managing Director
Acclaimed attorney and award-winning academic, Att. Dr. Dr. Virginie Tassin Campanella has received numerous honors, including the Outstanding Leadership Award (2022), Prominent Woman in International Law in Switzerland (2023), Global Expert Law Leader (2023, 2024), and Trailblazer & Innovator (2024). Recognized for her expertise in the Law of the Sea, she won the PhD Prize from INDEMER Monaco (2011) and ESDHC Brazil (2015). In 2023, she was named “Attorney of the Ocean” by Les Echos, the leading French financial newspaper. Her groundbreaking work in international law prompted the Global Law Expert Repository to create a new “Sea and Ocean” category in 2023 to honor her exceptional contributions.
Dr. Tassin Campanella is Avocat à la Cour (Paris Bar, 2016), EU/EFTA Attorney-at-law (Zürich Bar, 2020) and double Doctor in Law (Sorbonne & Melbourne, 2010).
Dr. Virginie Tassin Campanella collaborates with States, International Organizations, foundations, NGOs, and the private sector, including startups, covering a vast array of sectors such as conservation, space, shipping, fishing, telecom, mining, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and investment. Her expertise spans deep-sea mining, ocean data management, maritime boundary negotiations, sustainable shipping, ESG and sustainability law, fisheries and resources cooperation, joint development zones, natural resource management, environmental protection, security and peace in outer space and oceans, trade and environment, biodiversity access and management, creation of international organizations, transboundary pollution, and ocean/space governance.
Dr. Tassin Campanella applies the full spectrum of public international law to oceans and outer space, encompassing law of the sea, environmental law, maritime law space law, international organization law, climate law, human rights law, investment and trade law. She possesses niche expertise in the science-policy-business nexus, ocean protection and conservation, ocean governance – including international organisation’s governance, and the challenges associated with science, innovation, and technology.
Dr. Tassin Campanella regularly acts as counsel or legal expert for International and Regional Organisations, including the European Union, the World Bank, the EU Parliament, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), the International Oceanographic Commission of the UNESCO, The General Bathymetric Chart of the Ocean (GEBCO) – including the 2030 Seabed Programme, the IUCN France and IUCN World (Ocean Group) on various public international law & policy topics related to the law of international spaces & resources.
Since 2024, she is member of ABLOS (Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea, International Hydrographic Organisation and International Association of Geodesy), representing the Principality of Monaco as an independant expert.
She also possesses a unique experience in international dispute settlement and knowledge of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). Former Associate Legal Officer of ITLOS, Dr. Tassin Campanella worked on the 2011 Seabed Advisory Opinion (Seabed Dispute Chamber), the 2012 Bangladesh/Myanmar case, the 2013 M/V Louisa Case (St Vincent and the Grenadines vs. Spain), and the 2014 M/V Virginia G. Case (Panama vs. Guinea Bissau).
Dr. Tassin Campanella is currently President of the scientific council of the Economic Law of the Sea Institute of Monaco (INDEMER), Co-Chair of the Joint Task Force for SMART Submarine Cables (World Meteorological Organisation, IOC-UNESCO, International Telecommunications Union), International Counsel of the Brazilian Law of the Sea Institute (IBDMAR). Former Member of the Organizing Committee of the Kadir Has Law of the Sea Summer Academy (Turkey), she is often invited as a guest professor, academic advisor and key note speaker in leading universities, business schools and institutions (such as ITLOS) around the world.
With 30+ research articles, chapters and chronicles as well as three books on Law of the Sea issues (Les défis de l’extension du plateau continental 2010, Guide to the Navigation of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction 2017, and Routledge Handbook on Seabed Mining & the Law of the Sea, 2024), Dr. Tassin Campanella is a well known thought leader in the field, and a regular guest of high-profile international conferences around the world. French native speaker, she speaks fluently English, as well as Italian, German and a bit of Spanish and is able to work perfectly in the two main diplomatic languages.
+41 76 438 58 21
+ 15 years experience in Public International Law, and the Law of International Spaces and Resources (Ocean and Outer Space)
Award-winning researcher & Attorney in Public International Law & Law of the Sea
Trailblazer & Innovator in Public International Law & Law of the Sea
A rich international education conducted in Australia & France in Law, Commerce & Leadership
A unique international work experience in Asia-Pacific, Europe & Latin America
A pluridisciplinary mind shaped through International Law, International Relations, Sustainable Development, Commerce & Leadership
A commitment to continuous professional development
DIPLOMAS / CERTIFICATES
- 2007-2010: PhD in Law (Melbourne Law School, Melbourne University, Grade 1)
- Subject: The Extension of the Continental Shelf
- Law of the Sea, Public International Law, International Environmental Law, Ocean Governance
- PhD Prize of INDEMER of Monaco (2011)
- 2007-2010: Doctorat de droit public, (The Sorbonne Law School, The Sorbonne University, Mention très honorable, Prize for Publication and Funding for Publication)
- Subject: The Extension of the Continental Shelf
- Law of the Sea, Public International Law, International Environmental Law, Ocean Governance
- PhD Prize of INDEMER of Monaco (2011)
- 2009: Graduate Certificate of Advanced Learning & Leadership (Melbourne School of Graduate Studies, Melbourne University)
- Sustainable Development, Leadership, Creation & Management of projects
- Community Garden Project “Natopia” (Sustainable Development, Food security, Urban Heat)
- 2006: Graduate Diploma of Commerce (Sydney Business School, Sydney University)
- Global Environmental Politics, International Politics of Human Rights, Development issues in Southeast Asia, Forces of Change in International Relations, Commerce, Human Resources, Marketing
- 2005: Master of International Economic Law (The Sorbonne Law School, Sorbonne University, Mention Assez Bien)
- WTO Law, Banking & Finance, International Investment & International Trade, Law of the Sea
- Continued Professional Development (Certificates):
- 2020: Corporate Sustainability (New York University, Sustainable Business Center)
- 2019: Environmental Security & Sustaining Peace (United Nations Environment Program, Duke & Columbia Universities)
- 2014: Understanding Europe (HEC Paris)
- 2008: The Good and Bad Use of Marine Space : the Example of the Mediterranean Sea (European Summer Academy, Montpellier University
- 2005: Public International Law (The Hague Academy of International Law)
