Lauren Valiente is senior counsel with Foley & Lardner LLP and a member of the firm’s Government Enforcement, Compliance & White Collar Defense, Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution, and Latin America Practices.
In the area of Government Enforcement, Compliance & White Collar Defense, Ms. Valiente represents clients subject to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations, particularly government investigations directed to business dealings in Latin America. Ms. Valiente has participated in internal investigations and defended and counseled clients in connection with government investigations involving various other legal issues, including allegations of health care fraud and financial fraud. She also has experience in securities litigation, defending corporations, officers, and directors in securities class actions and shareholder derivative actions, as well as SEC enforcement matters.
In the area of Business Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Ms. Valiente has significant experience in both court-based litigation and AAA arbitration under the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, as well as in the defense of claims for fraud, breach of contract, interference with contract, and many other areas of commercial disputes. She also is experienced in a wide range of appellate matters, in both the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and Florida’s appellate courts. She also has experience in bankruptcy matters, having represented debtors in chapter 11 proceedings, and creditors in litigating claims against bankruptcy estates.
Ms. Valiente is a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee, where she serves on the Recruiting Project Team.
She received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 2000, with honors, and received her law degree from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2006), where she was managing editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy and elected to the Order of the Coif.
Ms. Valiente was selected for inclusion on the Florida Super Lawyers – Rising Stars® 2012 list. In 2007, she received the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s "30 Under 30" award which recognizes the top 30 young professionals in the Tampa Bay business community.
In 2010, Ms. Valiente graduated from the Tampa Connection program, a selective program for up-and-coming leaders in the Tampa Bay business community. Ms. Valiente serves on The University of South Florida’s (USF) Latin Community Advisory Committee, which advises the University’s president on issues affecting Hispanic students and raises money for scholarships for Hispanic students. Ms. Valiente actively mentors undergraduate students in connection with this group. Ms. Valiente also helps coach the USF Mock Trial Team.
Ms. Valiente is a member of The Florida Bar, the Federal Bar Association, the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and the Hispanic National Bar Association. She is also a member of the Harvard Club of New York and the Harvard Club of the West Coast of Florida.
Ms. Valiente is admitted to practice before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida and the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.
Ms. Valiente is fluent in Spanish.