Valerie was selected to the Oregon Super Lawyers list in real estate law by peers and Law & Politics (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and one of Oregon's 50 Great Leaders by Oregon Business magazine (2007).

For more than 25 years Valerie's practice has focused on real estate and business transactions, loan documentation, construction, restructures and workouts, and foreclosures. Her primary focus is representing financial service providers and businesses on complex commercial real estate projects, including acquisition, construction, leasing, and lending issues, and she has represented lenders in real estate lending transactions nationwide providing efficient and thorough legal analysis. Valerie's years of experience and proficient processes allow her to produce quality loan documentation (including workout, restructure and forebearance agreements) in days instead of weeks.

In addition to her law practice Valerie is an adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark Law School teaching a course in advanced commercial real estate which keeps her up to date on commercial real estate case law and trends.

Valerie has been a shareholder at Farleigh Wada Witt since January 1990, and served as president of the firm for seven years ending in 2007. She leads the firm's Real Estate practice group and is a member of the Financial Services practice group.

Loan Documentation - Representation of financial institutions in documenting numerous loans including lines of credit secured by accounts receivable and inventory, construction loans for numerous commercial projects including a 24 Hour Fitness facility in the Hollywood District of Portland, the Fubonn Shopping Center in Multnomah County, Oregon, and a loan to refinance a portion of the Beaverton Round complex in Washington County, Oregon. 

Workouts and Foreclosures - Representation of financial institutions in numerous loan restructures, workout agreements, forebearance agreements, and foreclosures with respect to commercial properties in Oregon, Washington, and (with assistance from local counsel) other states nationwide.

Assisted Living Facilities - Representation of financial institutions on numerous refinancings of loans and construction loans secured by assisted living facilities in Washington, Oregon, Utah, California, and Idaho, including a $60,000,000.00 syndicated construction loan, $16,559,000.00 refinance on three assisted living facilities in Oregon and Washington, an $11,000,000.00 refinance of an assisted living facility in Bonneville County, Idaho, and a $9,700,000.00 construction loan for an assisted living facility in Pullman, Washington.

Easements and Access Permits - Representation of PacifiCorp in the relocation of its power lines due to the Southwest Waterfront/OHSU Tram Project including the negotiation of necessary easements, releases, and permits.

Homeowners' Associations - Representation of several homeowners' associations on numerous homeowner association issues including recording and foreclosure of homeowners' association liens, facility upgrades, and easements.

Trust Deeds Chapter in the 2005 Oregon State Bar "Foreclosing Security Interests" Publication (Co-Authored with Henry L. Bauer)

Default and Enforcement of Security Interests under Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code (Co-Authored with Mark Wada, Laury Hennings, and Dean Sandow, 2001)

Default Remedies: a Comparison of Mortgage, Trust Deed and Land Sale Contract Chapter in the Oregon State Bar "Debtor/Creditor Issues in Real Estate Transactions" 2000 Publication (Co-Authored with Jeffrey R. Spere)

1997 Oregon State Bar Award of Merit for outstanding contribution to the legal community

1997 Multnomah Bar Association Pro Bono Award of Merit

2000 Multnomah Bar Association Pro Bono Award of Merit

2007-2008 Lewis & Clark Law School Extraordinary Teaching Award

Valerie serves on the OWLS (Oregon Women Lawyers) Leadership Committee and is co-captain of the OWLS dragonboat racing team (the mighty "Dragonflies"). She also currently serves on the advisory board of directors for KeyBank National Association and on the CourtCare Committee. In addition, Valerie volunteers for CARE, a credit abuse prevention program geared toward high school students.

From 1993 through 2009, Valerie chaired the pro bono subcommittee of the Debtor-Creditor Section of the Oregon State Bar, which created and manages a pro bono bankruptcy clinic for low income clients in the Portland metropolitan area. Valerie was elected to the Executive Committee of the Debtor-Creditor Section of the Oregon State Bar in 1995 and 1999, and was the co-chair of the Multnomah County Bar Association Managing Partner Round Table in 2006 and 2007.

Valerie has a daughter Stephanie born in 1986 and a son Daniel born in 1990. When she is not practicing law or traveling throughout the Northwest with her dragonboat team she enjoys writing, traveling, biking, cross-country skiing, and cooking for her extended Italian family. (Just don't ask her to sing.)