Valerie Matthews Lemieux practises aboriginal, constitutional, human rights and labour law in Winnipeg, where she represents unions. She has appeared before arbitrators and all levels of courts including the Supreme Court of Canada. She has acted for First Nation clients for almost twenty years in relation to treaty obligations, flood compensation, negotiation of complex joint venture arrangements, governance issues and section 35 consultations among other issues. As part of her labour law practice, she has been involved in many leading cases, including matters related to religious leave, parental leave top-up, mandatory retirement, duty to accommodate, and various seniority and working condition cases. Prior to starting her own law corporation, Valerie practised law at Myers Weinberg LLP from 1988 to 2004, where she also served as managing partner for three years. Before entering private practice, she was counsel for the Departments of Labour, Workplace Safety & Health, the Manitoba Pension Commission and the then newly created Manitoba Department of the Environment. In June 2008, Ms. Matthews Lemieux graduated with her LLM from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. She has taught labour law and has written and published in her field.