Practice Areas
- Appellate & Constitutional
- Commercial Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Employment Litigation
- Government, Internal Investigations & Criminal Defense
- Litigation
- Securities & Corporate Governance, Sarbanes-Oxley
- Trust, Estate & Fiduciary
Education
- B.A., Duke University, 1995, cum laude
- J.D., Duke University, 1998
Bar & Court Admissions
- North Carolina, 1998
- United States Court of Appeals - Fourth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals - Eleventh Circuit
- Eastern District of North Carolina
- Middle District of North Carolina
- Western District of North Carolina
Valecia M. McDowell
Valecia McDowell is a seasoned trial lawyer with noted successes in complex, high-stakes litigation. Her experience spans a broad range of civil and criminal defense matters, representing domestic and international clients in arbitration, commercial litigation, employment discrimination, securities, and D&O liability. Additionally, she has extensive experience conducting internal investigations for publicly-traded, privately held and non-profit institutions.
Ms. McDowell has achieved significant litigation results for her diverse client base, which include industries such as financial services, health care, real estate and telecommunications. She has tried cases in state and federal courts, argued before state and federal appellate courts, and conducted arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association and the New York Stock Exchange. Some of her representative representations have included arguing before the 11th Circuit in a product development and patentability dispute, prosecuting solicitation claims before a NASD panel, arbitrating a breach of fiduciary duty claim relating to a multi-million commercial real estate investment and defending a number of Sarbanes-Oxley claims.
Ms. McDowell is an appointed member of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina’s Advisory Committee on Local Rules and serves as Co-Chair of the Mecklenburg County Bar Sub-Committee on Diversity. Ms. McDowell is also a Hiring Member for Moore & Van Allen’s Recruiting Program and as a Co-Chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee.
Representative Representations:
- Multi-National Litigation Management (2001-present). Managed multi-national litigation and related regulatory proceedings in the areas of banking, taxation, securities, and director and officer liability throughout the United States, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, the Caymans, and the Bahamas.
- Johns v. Rexam Medical Packaging, (11th Circuit) (2006). Successfully argued appeal of district court’s grant of judgment as a matter of law relating to multi-million dollar product development and patentability after the close of federal jury trial.
- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. v. John Bahr and Raymond James & Associates, Inc., et al. Successful prosecution of claims for breach of contract relating to the improper solicitation of clients of theft of confidential/proprietary data in federal court proceeding (M.D.N.C. Civil Action No. 1:06 -CV-00175) and NASD arbitration.
- Ruff v. Target Stores, Inc., W.D.N.C. (2005). Successfully argued summary judgment motion based on federal and state age and gender discrimination claims.
- Hector v. Bank of America N.A., AAA Arbitration (2004). Successfully defended BOA Private Bank in $20M investment management arbitration.
Of Note
- Panelist for 2010 "Women in Leadership Symposium", presented by the National Diversity Council
- "50 Most Influential Women" nominee for 2010, presented by the Mecklenburg Times
- Panelist for Justice Older than the Law CLE program through the Mecklenburg County Bar, which honored the life & legacy of Dovey Johnson Roundtree.
- Authored chapter entitled, "Arbitration in the Digital Age: Synchronizing Your E-discovery Plan with Your Arbitration Strategy" in Aspatore book Inside the Minds: E-Discovery in Arbitration
- Co-Chair, Mecklenburg County Bar Sub-Committee on Diversity
- Board Member, Community Building Initiative
- Former Board Member, Charlotte’s Community School of the Arts
- Former Officer, John S. Leary Bar Association, Charlotte’s Chapter of the Black Lawyers Association
- Former Board member, Future Forum, Duke University School of Law
- Dehoff/Arnold Scholar, Duke University
- Presenter of research findings on perceived discrimination, race, and cardiovascular health at the 1995 annual conference of the Society of Behavioral Medicine
- Recognized in the 2010 edition of Benchmark Litigation as a "Future Star" for the highest quality of litigation work over the past year
- Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America
News
- McDowell and Zirkle Named to 50 Most Influential Women of 2010 List
- McDowell to be a panelist at NC Women in Leadership Symposium
- Thirty-six Moore & Van Allen Attorneys Named to North Carolina Super Lawyers 2010
- Valecia McDowell & Brian Heslin Inducted into the Litigation Counsel of America
- Benchmark Litigation Recognizes Firm’s NC Litigation Practice with Highest Designation
- Valecia McDowell Quoted in the Charlotte Business Journal
Speaking Engagements
- McDowell Will Serve on Mecklenburg County Bar Panel, March 4, 2010
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- North Carolina Bar Association
- John S. Leary Bar Association
- National Bar Association