Professionals

Valerie Henderson

Shareholder

Houston
T: 713.286.7172
F: 713.583.5078

Valerie Henderson is the office managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Houston office and a member of the Firm's Complex Litigation and Class Actions Group.

Overview

South Texas College of Law, J.D., 2011
- Member – South Texas Law Review
Texas A&M University, B.B.A. Management and Marketing, 2008

Texas, 2011
U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas, 2012
U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2013
U.S. Supreme Court, 2018

Valerie represents clients in complex commercial litigation matters throughout Texas. She also has significant experience representing insurers in first-party and third-party litigation, including residential and commercial property claims, coverage disputes, alleged bad-faith claims, insurance code violations, and breach-of-contract actions. Her practice further includes representing financial institutions in litigation involving residential mortgage transactions, mortgage lending and servicing issues, state and federal regulatory compliance matters, and collection issues. Valerie has extensive courtroom experience in Texas state and federal courts and has handled all phases of litigation, including motion practice, discovery, depositions, hearings, mediations, trials, and appeals.

Additionally, Valerie regularly manages large dockets of cases for national and regional clients in a variety of industries, developing litigation strategies that are consistent with each client's business objectives while efficiently and effectively resolving disputes. A key component of Valerie's practice is understanding each client's unique goals, risk tolerance, and business needs. By working closely with her clients to identify desired outcomes early in the litigation process, she develops tailored strategies designed to achieve practical, cost-effective results while protecting their interests in and out of the courtroom.

Successfully defended financial institutions in arbitration against allegations of harassment, invasion of privacy, and Texas Debt Collection Act violations. Successfully defeated a later appeal by the claimant before the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas in which the claimant challenged the arbitrability of the matter.
Defended financial institutions in actions throughout Texas regarding alleged wire fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and the implications and effects of the Bank Secrecy Act and other privacy laws.
Represented financial institutions in collections matters throughout Texas involving amounts ranging between $1,500 to more than $15 million.
Obtained final summary judgment in favor of a mortgage servicer and owner of a mortgage loan against allegations of wrongful foreclosure, violation of the Texas Debt Collection Act, and a request for a declaratory judgment that the note and deed of trust were void. Successfully handled a later appeal of the final judgment before the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas.
Successfully prosecuted a quiet title action on behalf of a mortgage lien holder against a third-party buyer of the property who fraudulently transferred title to avoid complying with Texas requirements related to home-owners association foreclosure sales.
Obtained final summary judgment in favor of an insurance company and dismissal of all of the insured's claims for alleged breach of the policy and violations of the Texas Insurance Code in the Southern District of Texas-McAllen Division due to the insured's failure to provide prompt notice of his claim and the prejudice the insurance company suffered as a result in a case alleging property damage caused by a hail storm.
Won summary judgment on behalf of an insurance broker in a lawsuit in Texas federal district court arising from the denial of insurance coverage for a loss due to wire fraud.
Won a motion for summary judgment on behalf of a loan servicer in a contested foreclosure lawsuit. Following the borrower's appeal, the appellate court affirmed the judgment.