In celebration of Women’s History Month, Becker is showcasing the inspiration, philosophies, and expertise of the women attorneys and lobbyists who help elevate our firm and client service. Valeria Angelucci is an attorney in our Ft. Lauderdale office. A native of Italy, she was selected and granted a full scholarship to participate in a Dual Degree Program, resulting in her earning a law degree from Roma Tre University, Italy, and a J.D. from Nova Southeastern University. She uses her unique international background, experience, language skills, and creativity to assist domestic and foreign clients.
Q: Explain your practice area and what you do
A: I am a corporate attorney, and my focus is on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and securities regulation. Basically, I help businesses navigate the legal side of things, starting from entity formation and establishing initial corporate structures, navigating negotiations for acquisitions or fundraising efforts, and – sometimes – ultimately “exiting” and selling the business while making sure they are compliant and make sound decisions.
Q: How did you know you wanted to practice law?
A: I’m not one of those people who had their heart set on practicing law since childhood. In fact, when I was young, I talked about being a doctor (like my dad) or a flight attendant. My parents would say however that I have always been a pretty good negotiator, haha. I did in fact apply to both law school and medical school after high school and passed the entry test for both, but I ended up choosing to go to Roma Tre Law School because I was intrigued by the power of language – and foreign languages – and how those can be used to shape interactions and relationships, and I knew Roma Tre offered several international programs, including the Dual Degree Program that ultimately brought me to the US.
Q: What is a significant achievement or milestone in your career that you’re particularly proud of?
A: I am always very proud of the work we do as a team in our corporate department, and we have several complex transactions we worked on recently (for example we recently closed a cross-border acquisition of a British group by a global food company which meant coordinating a multi-jurisdictional legal team and facing multi-jurisdiction issues) which were very rewarding once closed. I am also very proud of my growth within the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar, where I started as a fellow, worked on several legislative bills and other initiatives of the section, and now serve in leadership positions.
Q: What qualities do you admire about the women in your life?
A: The women in my life have a few things in common which I admire: they are all determined, strong, kind, empathetic, and always believe in lifting others up.
Q: Who is your favorite female historical figure and why?
A: One I have admired since I was very young is Marie Curie. She was a woman and an immigrant, who was passionate, perseverant, and curious, and was able to revolutionize the fields of physics and chemistry, which were all male-dominated fields. She also became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to receive Nobel Prizes in two different scientific disciplines.
Q: What obstacles do women still face today?
A: While we have come a long way, women still face a lot of challenges. Gender bias is still alive and well, and women still have unequal opportunities for career advancement. For example, despite the fact women represent the majority of Associates at law firms and a significant portion of the workforce in many other fields, we are still underrepresented in leadership positions. Also, balancing a career with family and caregiving duties (which still disproportionately fall on women) is particularly challenging, especially when there are still very limited supportive policies.
Q: What is something you would like the next generation of women to know?
A: You are capable, your ideas are worthy, and do not compare yourself to others but recognize diversity and its value. Do not forget what prior generations of women have done to get where we are today and remember that your contributions are essential to continue driving positive change.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self?
A: Take it easy and have fun along the way. Accept that certain things may not work out and some moments may be tough but believe that better things are in store for you. Remember that a setback may not always be a bad thing, and a better opportunity can be coming your way. Stop underestimating yourself and selling yourself short, you are capable of more than you realize.