Professional Biography

Valerie L. Hughes Of Counsel

  • Seattle

    D +1.206.359.8840

    F +1.206.359.9840

    Seattle

    1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900

    Seattle, WA 98101-3099

    +1.206.359.8840

    VHughes@perkinscoie.com

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Overview

Valerie Hughes, of counsel with the firm's Labor and Employment practice, has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of employment litigation, discrimination and harassment litigation, collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, and administrative proceedings. In addition to her representation of private employers, Val provides general counsel representation to Washington school districts, including state and federal court litigation and administrative hearings.

BL 2024 - Lawyer of the Year

Named "Education Law Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America, 2024

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 – 2024
  • 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.)

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

Experience

News

Insights

RELATED INFORMATION

Bar and Court Admissions

  • 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

Education

  • Washington University School of Law, J.D., Order of the Coif, 1980, Senior Editor, Washington University Law Review
  • Saint Louis University, Clinical Psychology, 1977
  • Bradley University, B.A., summa cum laude, 1975,