Valerie Edwards, Senior Partner has over 23 years of litigation experience. She concentrates her
practice in complex civil litigation matters, construction defect and contract matters, professional
liability, and real estate law. She is a Certified Litigation Management Professional and Certified
Claims Professional for Construction.
Valerie brings extensive experience in the representation of developers, builders, and subcontractors in
construction defect, construction accidents, and contract disputes. She also has extensive experience
in real estate matters, handling adverse possession claims, ownership and easement claims,
recording act claims, contract negotiation, breach of contract/warranty claims and landlord-tenant
disputes.
Valerie also handles professional liability matters involving attorneys, real estate brokers and
salespersons, insurance professionals, and financial representatives. She also defends healthcare
providers, including physicians, nurses, and medical facility providers. She also handles matters
involving employment practices liability claims (including violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act and
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964), directors and officers claims, defamation, and malicious
prosecution claims, and general insurance defense matters. Her experience in all practice areas includes first-chair trial, arbitration, mediation, and appellate briefing and argument. Valerie also has experience in class action litigation at the state and federal levels (including multi-district litigation).
This experience includes extensive discovery and motion practice on class certification, decertification of issues, and dismissal of putative class action matters. Ms. Edwards also serves as an expert witness on attorneys' fee claims.
Education
- Arizona State University, B.S., Finance, 1991
- Arizona State University, Masters in Business Administration, 1996
- Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, J.D., 1996
- Pedrick Scholar
Bar Admissions
- 1996, Arizona
- 1996, U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
- 2003, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
- 2013, Florida
- 2013, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- 2016, U.S. Supreme Court
- 2019, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
Personal/Civil Memberships
- National Association of Women in Construction, Fort Lauderdale Chapter (Board Member, Treasurer)
- Construction Association of South Florida (Women’s Council Chair)
- Greater Orlando Builders Association
- Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers
- Commercial Real Estate Women, Orlando
- Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (Executive Board Member)
- Sandra Day O’Connor Inn of Court
- Maricopa County Bar Association