Valentina Lopera is an associate attorney at Vanderlaan Law Group and is based in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale Office. Valentina’s practice focuses on civil litigation and insurance defense. Valentina’s areas of expertise include defense of personal injury claims, including auto negligence, construction injury, and premises liability injury claims, as well as civil rights claims and employment litigation.

At VLG, Valentina defends the firm's clients in a wide range of complex and high exposure litigated matters from inital complaint through final appeal.  Prior to VLG, Valentina's experience includes Insurance Coverage Litigation and Opinions. Additionally, Valentina has experience defending claims for personal injury sounding in auto negligence, premises liability, and construction injury, as well as defending property damage claims, civil rights claims, and employment-based claims.

Valentina has a committment to pro-bono work and received an honorary distinction for completing more than 200 hours of pro-bono services during law shcool career. Valentina has worked with Mission United Veterans Pro Bono Legal Aid Services of Broward County, where she helped low-income veterans appeal their military discharge status and/or their benefits; as well as assisting veterans in various civil matters including evictions and child custody disputes. Valentina also has provided legal assistance services with the Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Law Clinic, where she helped caregivers of adults with intellectual disabilities obtain court ordered authority to make legal decisions on behalf of an adult that lacks that capacity, in order to petition for benefits and consent to medical procedures. Valentina has experience having interned with the Miami Dade Public Schools Board of Education and working as a clerk at a civil litigation defense firm based in Miami.

Valentina is licensed to practice in the state of Florida and admitted in the United States District Court Southern District of Florida. Valentina is a member of the Broward County Bar Association, and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.

Valentina graduated cum laude from Florida International University with a degree in Political Science. She obtained her law degree from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law. 

Valentina is bilingual, and while in law school was a Junior Associate and Bilingual Translator for the school journal, ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law.

RECOGNITION

Valentina is a member of the Broward County Bar Association, and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.