Valerie focuses on discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, reductions in force, wage and hour and restrictive covenants. She represents companies of all sizes, including those based in the United States, as well as international companies doing business in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the United States. She provides harassment, discrimination and diversity awareness training, conducts investigations and drafts employee handbooks and other policies.
Valerie also has substantial expertise in executive and employee advocacy and transition, representing executives, professionals and employees in complex employment issues, including contract negotiation, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants, severance, change of control, deferred compensation, and equity interests. She has guided numerous companies and executives through the most difficult employment situations.
Valerie mediates and arbitrates cases for private parties. She was trained in civil mediation by the Community Dispute Settlement Center in 2001 and also received advanced mediation training. She is certified as a harassment prevention and disability discrimination trainer by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Valerie is a member of the American Arbitration Association Arbitration Panel for Employment Disputes.
Valerie routinely appears before federal and state courts and agencies, including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board.
Valerie was previously a Partner at ArentFox Schiff, LLP.