Valerie Hynes, K.C.
Partner
Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Corporate-Commercial, Residential and Commercial Real Estate
Experience
Queen’s Counsel Appointment, 2020, under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II
Valerie Hynes is a partner with Roebothan, McKay, Marshall, with over 25 years’ of legal experience.
With a practice focused on Motor Vehicle Accident and other Personal Injury and Insurance Law, with ample experience in Commercial Finance and Real Estate Law, she has appeared at all levels of Court in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Valerie is a community organizer, volunteer and was an elected Bencher for the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador for six years.
In her spare time, she enjoys an active lifestyle running with friends, enjoying family time with her husband and three children or watching local hockey, including the Newfoundland Regiment.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association Member
- Atlantic Trial Lawyers Association Member
- Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Past Co-Chair of the Law Day Committee, Canadian Bar Association
- Past Co-Chair of the MQP School Council
- Past Elected Bencher of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, Eastern District Member (2018-2026)
- Past Real Estate Committee Chair, Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
Awards
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada™ each year since 2024 in the area of Personal Injury Litigation
- Puddester Award for excellence in Public Law, Dalhousie University
Education
- 1996 — Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op), Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador
- 1996 – Intercollegiate Business Case Competition (ICBC) Silver Medalist Labour Arbitration, Kingston, Ontario
- 2000 — Bachelor of Laws, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia
- 2001 — Called to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar
- 2020 – Queen’s Counsel
Notable Court Cases
- Gallant v. Patten, 2010 NLTD 1 (CanLII): Acting for an injured Plaintiff in a trial at the Newfoundland Supreme Court, Trial Decision where a Chiropractor was found liable for chiropractic malpractice for failure to obtain informed consent and explain the risks of a chiropractic neck manipulation. Her treatment resulted in a stroke and disabling injuries.
- Brake-Patten v. Gallant, 2012 NLCA 23 (CanLII): Once again acting for the Plaintiff on appeal where the Chiropractor sought to over turn the trial decision for lack of reasons. We acted for the Plaintiff and successfully defended our clients position and the causation for injury decision at trial.
- Debbie Brake-Patten v. Abraham Gallant, 2012 CanLII 66226 (SCC): The unsuccessful Chiropractor sought leave to the SCC to appeal the NLCA decision and we successfully won the leave application process.
- Fitzgerald v. Whitten, 2010 NLTD 188 (CanLII): Acting for an injured motorcycle riding Plaintiff who was struck in the roadway by a negligent driver on a rural roadway. The driver failed to share the road and crossed over the centre line striking the Plaintiff’s motor cycle causing injuries.