Valerie Smith is a counsel in O’Melveny’s Los Angeles office. She is a member of the Project Development and Real Estate Practice and focuses primarily in the power industry. Valerie has represented a broad range of clients in the power industry, including independent power producers, utilities and financiers. She has been actively involved in the renewable energy market, representing clients in connection with the acquisition, development and financing of wind, solar and other renewable energy facilities in the United States.

Valerie has advised project developers and investors on long-term power sales arrangements for over 25 new or existing renewable projects across the United States. She recently represented a large investor-owned utility in connection with the purchase of renewable energy from one of the largest wind farm developments in the United States. She also assisted in the development of a “green” power program and standardized power purchase contracts for one of the largest municipal utilities in the United States.

Valerie also represents clients in connection with the development, acquisition and financing of large infrastructure projects in the transportation industry. She has advised both public and private project sponsors and financiers in the port and rail industries, including advising on federal and state loan and grant funding programs. Several of these projects have earned significant recognition including Project Finance Magazine's North American Acquisition Deal of the Year 2007 and Project Finance International 's "Infrastructure Project of the Year."