Biography
Valérie has always been drawn to the complexities of protecting one’s creations. As an Associate within the Trademarks practice at Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP, Valérie feels fortunate to combine her creative interests with her desire to advocate for brands, creators, and inventors.
Her representative experience includes preparing and filing trademark applications, renewals, drafting and preparing advisory letters, statements of use, extension requests, and office action refusal responses. Advocating for her clients, she provides strategic trademark protection and enforcement programs to assist in protecting and commercializing their brands.
Outside of her client focused work, Valérie turns to creating floral arrangements and making playlists as a creative outlet. She is fluent in French and is conversational in Haitian Creole.
Background and Credentials
Valérie completed her B.S. degree in political science and government from the University of Central Florida, graduating in three years. She then pursued her law degree at the American University Washington College of Law. During law school, Valérie was a Senior Staffer on the American University Intellectual Property Brief, an Advocate within the Mock Trial Honor Society, the Director of Alumni Affairs for the Mid-Atlantic region of the National Black Law Students Association and served as Chair of the Fashion Law Society. Valérie was a Semi-Finalist during the 2020 Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition. In 2019, she won the American Bar Association John Marshall Law School National Criminal Justice Trial Competition and received awards for Best Opening Statement and Best Cross Examination. Prior to joining Marshall Gerstein, Valérie served as a Law Clerk for the Hon. Danya A. Dayson at the District of Columbia Superior Court. Following her clerkship, she counseled clients at a full-service law firm as well as a boutique intellectual property law firm.
Education
- American University Washington College of Law (J.D.)
- University of Central Florida (B.S.)
- Political Science
- Minors in Sociology and Legal Studies
Bar Admissions
Publications and Presentations
- "Trademark Law: Hershey v. Everyone?," American University Intellectual Property Brief, March 29, 2018.
- "Anti-Trust/Privacy Law: Alexa: Friend or Foe?," American University Intellectual Property Brief, March 7, 2018.
Community and Professional Involvement
Valérie is one of the co-founder’s of LegallyBlack®. A non-profit organization with the primary goal of bridging the gap between intellectual property resources and minority communities. Since its founding in 2020, Valérie has presented to hundreds of middle school and high school students on the basics of intellectual property law. Through her dedication and service to the underrepresented, Valérie received the 2023 “30 Under 30” Award from her alma mater, the University of Central Florida. She also serves on the Associate Board for The Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms.