Valerie L. Hughes
- Seattle
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Valerie is a trusted adviser and lead litigation counsel to Fortune 500 companies and municipal governments.
Valerie Hughes represents companies and organizations in employment litigation, discrimination and harassment litigation, mediation, collective bargaining, arbitration, and administrative proceedings.
A long-time partner and now of counsel with the firm's Labor & Employment practice, Valerie serves as a trusted advisor and provides general counsel representation to dozens of Washington school districts. She advises the board of directors and represents districts in state and federal court litigation and administrative hearings.
Bar association service and pro bono work are mainstays of Valerie’s career. She has served as president of the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington and chaired its Pro Bono Committee and has served as a lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. Valerie’s recent pro bono work focuses on representation of those adversely affected by the criminal justice system, including numerous cases for the Innocence Project Northwest, the Seattle Clemency Project, and the Records Project.
Valerie has been recognized for decades by Super Lawyers and by Best Lawyers. She was selected multiple times as "Lawyer of the Year" in both Employment Law and Education Law.
Areas of focus
Industries
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- Washington University School of Law, J.D., Order of the Coif, Senior Editor, Washington University Law Review, 1980
- Saint Louis University, Clinical Psychology, 1977
- Bradley University, B.A., summa cum laude, , 1975
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Professional Recognition
Named Best Lawyers' "Lawyer of the Year" for Education Law, 2020, 2024
Named Best Lawyers' "Lawyer of the Year" for Employment Law - Management, 2016-2018
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Education Law; Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2007-2026
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, “Washington’s Super Lawyers,” 2007-2021
*Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
(AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington, Immediate Past President 2006; President 2005; Vice President 2004; Chair, Pro Bono Committee, 1999-2003
- Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, 2005-2007
- Washington State Bar Association, Labor Law Section
- King County Bar Association, Labor Law Section
- Washington Council of School Attorneys
- Pacific Northwest Ballet, Employment Counsel
Professional Experience
Labor & Employment
George v. United Parcel Service Inc.
Defense of class action state law wage-and-hour claim regarding exempt status of on-car supervisors under FLSA.
Doe v. The Boeing Company
Bench trial concerning employee's claim that company failed to reasonably accommodate his disability; defense verdict; affirmed by Washington Supreme Court. 121 Wn. 2d 8, 846 P.2d 531 (Wash. 1993)
Dator v. The Boeing Company
Two-week jury trial on sex and race discrimination and retaliation claims; defense verdict.
Moldt v. Tacoma School District Number 10
Affirmance of summary judgment that substitute teachers were excluded from continuing contract rights under state statute. 103 Wn. App. 472, 12 P.3d 1042 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000)
Mehlhaff v. Tacoma School District Number 10
Affirmance of summary judgment that substitute teachers were not statutorily entitled to same rate of pay as full-time teachers. 92 Wn. App. 982, 966 P.2d 419 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998)
City of Federal Way v. Public Employment Relations Comm'n
Obtained ruling overturning Commission's findings that city's layoff of employee was retaliation for union activity. 93 Wn. App. 509, 970 P.2d 752 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999)
Wright v. Mead School District
Successful defense of school district against allegations of wrongful discharge. 87 Wn. App. 624, 944 P.2d 1 (Wash. Cir. App. 1997)
Lawson v. The Boeing Company
Former supervisor filed action for damages against Boeing and several employees after his demotion for sexual harassment. 58 Wn. App. 261, 792 P.2d 545 (Wash. Ct. App. 1990)
Sauter v. Mount Vernon School District
Successful defense of school district following allegations by teacher of wrongful termination. 58 Wn. App. 121, 791 P.2d 549 (Wash. Ct. App. 1990)