Valerie Dondero specializes in all aspects of first- and third-party insurance defense litigation, including fraud/SIU matters, insurance coverage, personal and commercial property claims, premises liability, product liability, trucking, environmental and toxic torts, as well as other special lines claims.

In addition, Valerie advises insurers throughout Florida on electronic signature challenges and has assisted played a key role in developing and optimizing online application processes. Her practice also includes broker and agency liability claims, as well as claims involving ATVs and other recreational vehicles.

As co-chair of the firm’s First Party Practice Group, Valerie is a sought-after lecturer who has presented to Florida and London market insurers on a wide range of topics, including uninsured motorist claims, bad faith litigation, marina operators’ liability, and the defense of traumatic brain injury claims.

• Auto Glass
• Automobile and Motorized Vehicles
• Bad Faith and Claims Handling Assistance
• Environmental
• First-Party Property: Personal and Commercial
• Fraud / SIU / EUO
• Premises Liability
• Products Liability
• Professional Liability
• Trucking – Transportation – Logistics

Education

• St. Thomas University (J.D., 1988)

  Honors: Who’s Who in American Colleges & Universities, St. Thomas University; School of Law (1986-1987); American Jurisprudence Book; Award, Bankruptcy (1987); American Jurisprudence Book; Award, Law & the Aging (1987)

• Immaculata College (B.A., 1983)

• State of Florida 1990
• United States District Court, Southern District of Florida

• Kubicki Draper First Party Practice Group, Co-Chair
• Florida Bar Association
• Dade County Bar Association
• Dade County Defense Bar Association
• Florida Association of Women Lawyers
• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

• Certified Continuing Education Instructor, State of Florida

• United States Who’s Who of Executives & Professionals (2006 -2007)

• “Florida’s Updated Civil Rules – A Guide for Insurance Professionals,” Frontline, 2025
• “The Two Point Conversion – Utilizing the Two Step Concurrent Causation Defense,” Kubicki Draper Webinar, 2023
• “Fighting Fraud in Late Reported Homeowners Claims,” FIFEC, 2023
• “Florida 4-Hour Law and Ethics Update,” Kubicki Draper Webinar, 2023
• “Post-Trial Motions and Dispositive Motions,” Frontline, 2022
• “Combating Fraudulent and/or Excessive Attorneys Fee Demands,” Frontline, 2022
• “Assignment of Benefits: Defense Against Water Mitigation and Current Legal Issues Involving the Concurrent Cause Doctrine,” Frontline, 2022
• “SB76 Became Effective July 1, 2021, What Now?,” Frontline, 2022
• “Defending Against Inflated Estimates in First Party Homeowners Claims,” Homeowners Choice, 2020
• “Applying Florida’s Concurrent Cause Doctrine to First Party Property Claims,” Frontline, 2019
• “Florida 5-Hour Law and Ethics Update,” Progressive, 2019
• “Playing Roulette with Policy Conditions,” Kubicki Draper, Go All In for KD’s Claim Game – First Party Property Conference, 2019
• “Collateral Sources, Set Offs and Liens,” Progressive, 2019
• “Bad Faith Fees in Insurance Litigation,” Bench and Bar by American Inns of Court, 2019
• “Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist,” Farmers, 2018
• “Fraud in Hurricane Irma Roof Leak Claims,” Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee (FIFEC), 2018
• “How to Handle Wind and Water Damage Claims,” Frontline, 2018
• “Cost Effective Ways of Resolving Plaintiff Fees and Costs and Navigating through the Jones Act,” CJW, 2017
• “Liar, Liar: Proving Material Misrepresentation and Fraud in Florida,” Kubicki Draper, A Day at the First Party Property Oscars, 2017
• “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: The Two Faces of the Concurrent Cause Doctrine,” Kubicki Draper, A Day at the First Party Property Oscars, 2017
• “Best Practices to Prevent E&O Claims,” Windhaven, 2017
• “Best Practices to Prevent E&O Claims,” Windhaven, 2017
• “UM and Medicare Liens,” Direct General, 2016
• “UM/UIM and Medicare,” National General, 2016
• “Assignment of Benefits,” Lloyds of London, 2016
• “Agent Errors and Omissions and Best Practices,” Windhaven, 2016
• “Uninsured Motorist Coverage – A Detailed Analysis,” Progressive, 2016
• “Florida 5-Hour Law and Ethics Update,” MAPFRE, 2016
• “Arson Mock Trial Presentation,” Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee (FIFEC), 2016
• “Fire Origin and Burn Stages Explained,” Kubicki Draper Earth, Wind and Fire: Music of Property Claims First Party Claims Conference, 2016
• “Defending Against Fraud: Litigation Strategies,” Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee (FIFEC), 2015
• “Florida 5 – Hour Law and Ethics Update,” United Automobile, 2014
• “Mediation Techniques,” GEICO, 2013
• “Advanced Medical Issues in Personal Injury Cases,” Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FDLA), 2012
• “Defending Traumatic Brain Injury Claims in Cruise Ship Litigation,” South Florida Cruise Ship Industries, 2012
• “Uninsured Motorist Coverage: An Overview,” Progressive, 2011
• “Traumatic Brain Injury,” Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FDLA), 2011
• “Defending Traumatic Brain Injury,” London Market, 2011
• “Settlement and Negotiation Strategies,” Allstate, 2010
• “Marina Operator’s Liability,” Chubb Group, 2008
• “Florida Tort Reform,” London Market Briefing, 2009
• “Insurer’s Bad Faith,” Chubb, 2008
• “The Life of a Coverage Suit,” Progressive Regional Mentor Program, 2003
• “How to Successfully Litigate Declaratory Relief Actions,” Progressive Regional In-House Training Program, 2002
• “Uninsured Motorist Claims,” Progressive Miami In-House Training Program, 2001

• Class I and Class II Distinctions for Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Stacked and Non-Stacked Coverage, KD Winter Quarterly, 2023
• On the Hook for a Prevailing Party’s Attorney’s Fees? Here’s What to Know About Contingency Fee Multipliers, KD Spring Quarterly, 2022
• New Law Regulates Lawsuit Lending Businesses, Claims Management Magazine, September 2014
• To be, or not to be (a vessel), that is the question, KD Winter Quarterly, 2013
• Electronic Signature Challenges, KD Winter Quarterly, 2013
• Revisiting Florida’s Uninsured Motorist Law After Travelers Commercial Ins. Co. v. Harrington, KD Fall Quarterly, 2013