EXPERIENCE

In her private practice, Valerie has represented clients in their most significant corporate finance transactions, ranging from acquisition financings and bank and bridge loan financings, to refinancing transactions, restructurings and other related financings. Valerie’s clients include Avenue Capital, MacAndrews & Forbes, Capri Holdings Limited (formerly Michael Kors Holdings Limited), Oak Hill Capital, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Revlon, Silver Point Capital and Virtu Financial, among others.

INDUSTRY AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Who’s Who Legal recognized Valerie in 2018 for her “superb work handling a range of related matters across the banking sector,” in 2020 for her “invaluable experience advising corporate and financial institutions” and in 2021 for her “top-tier work advising corporate borrowers and private equity sponsors on acquisition finance matters.” Lawdragon named Valerie to its 500 Leading Dealmakers in America guide in 2021 for both Corporate Finance and Private Equity, and Euromoney listed Valerie as one of the “Best in Corporate Governance” in its 2018 Americas Women in Business Law Awards.

Valerie was recognized with the NYU School of Law “Alumni Achievement Award” in 2022 for her extraordinary professional achievements, service to the legal profession and impact on society. She was profiled as a law firm leader in LEADERS Magazine in 2018, and was recognized by Corporate Counsel that same year in its Women in Law Awards for Law Firm Transformative Leadership. In 2017, she was profiled in Crain’s New York Business’s inaugural list of “Leading Women Lawyers” in New York City.

BOARDS AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

As a longtime advocate for greater diversity in the legal profession, Valerie is active in several professional organizations devoted to women’s leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a founding member of Thomson Reuters Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board, and is a member of the Global Advisory Board of Women in Law Empowerment Forum, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women in law. Valerie is also a member of the Steering Committee of the 30% Club, an organization comprised of CEOs and other leaders committed to gender balance on boards.

Valerie is involved in numerous community, civic and charitable activities. Valerie serves on the Board of Trustees of New York University School of Law. She is a founding mentor of the Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Fellows Program at NYU Law. She also serves on the board of directors of Student Leadership Network, a non-profit organization which supports students from underserved communities in accessing educational opportunities, and was honored by the organization for her achievements and advocacy in 2018. She also serves on the Northeast board of directors of the Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation; and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Newark Academy. She previously served on the Advisory Board of Fashion, Arts, Media & Entertainment Center at Cardozo School of Law.

Valerie earned her B.A. from Brandeis University, magna cum laude, and her J.D. from New York University School of Law.