Valerie is an experienced complex commercial litigator who advises clients through all phases of litigation and trial/arbitration.

Overview
Awards

Valerie focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation matters involving insurance coverage, class action, health care, unfair competition, and antitrust disputes. She is experienced in all facets of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, dispositive and procedural motions, pre-trial preparation, and trial in federal and state courts as well as mediation and arbitration.

Prior to joining the firm, Valerie served as a law clerk to the Honorable Roger T. Benitez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

  • Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Commercial Litigation (2023-2025)

Valerie focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation matters involving insurance coverage, class action, health care, unfair competition, and antitrust disputes. She is experienced in all facets of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, dispositive and procedural motions, pre-trial preparation, and trial in federal and state courts as well as mediation and arbitration.

Prior to joining the firm, Valerie served as a law clerk to the Honorable Roger T. Benitez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

  • Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Commercial Litigation (2023-2025)

Top areas of focus

Education

  • University of San Diego School of Law, J.D., 2015
  • Chapman University, B.A., cum laude, 2008, political science; minor in legal studies

Bar Admissions

  • California

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California

Clerkships

  • Hon. Roger T. Benitez, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 2016-2018
  • Panelist, “Preserving the Attorney-Client Privilege: Best Practices & Future Trends,” Association of Corporate Counsel 6th Annual La-Law-Palooza, April 2024.
  • Presenter, “Crafting Your Story,” DRI Young Lawyers Seminar, June 2022.
  • Author, “Florida Emerges as the Place to Enforce Foreign Arbitral Awards,” Bloomberg Law, July 2024.
  • Author, “Another One Bites the Dust: Overbreadth and Likelihood of Public Harm Dooms No-Hire/No-Poach Provision in Pennsylvania Case of First Impression,” For the Defense, July 2021.
  • Author, “Understanding Diversity Fatigue (and Four Strategies to Overcome it),” For the Defense, May 2020.
  • Mentor, Business Law Society Lattes with Lawyers Program, USD School of Law, 2018-present
  • Chair, Seminar Planning Subcommittee, DRI Young Lawyers, 2023-2024 (vice chair, 2022-2023; second vice chair, 2021-2022)
  • Vice chair, Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee, DRI Young Lawyers, 2020-2021
  • Vice chair, Women in the Law Subcommittee, DRI Young Lawyers, 2019-2020
  • Associate, Hon. J. Clifford Wallace Chapter, American Inns of Court, 2017-2019