Valerie L. Makarewicz

Valerie Makarewicz is an accomplished trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor with more than 20 years of experience investigating and litigating complex criminal and civil matters in federal and state courts.

Before joining Carlton Fields, Valerie served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Major Frauds Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, where she investigated and prosecuted large-scale financial crimes, sometimes in parallel with civil and regulatory matters that arose in a wide range of industries. As a federal prosecutor, Valerie led investigations into tax evasion, securities and commodities fraud, health care fraud, bankruptcy fraud, money laundering, and consumer protection violations. She regularly coordinated with law enforcement and regulatory partners in numerous jurisdictions and agencies, and spearheaded the development and execution of complex case strategies, marshaling civil and criminal enforcement tools. She successfully tried numerous jury and bench trials to verdict and briefed and argued multiple appeals before the Ninth Circuit.

Valerie’s government service as an AUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office Tax Division, and earlier in her career, as a trial attorney with the Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel, where she litigated more than 100 cases before the U.S. Tax Court, afforded her extensive experience across the full spectrum of tax enforcement and litigation matters — including criminal tax prosecutions and civil tax controversies. She worked closely with IRS-Criminal Investigation and Civil Exam and Collection, the Tax Division of the Department of Justice, and state taxing authorities on cases involving offshore accounts, payroll tax evasion, false return schemes, and complex partnership and corporate tax fraud. Her familiarity with criminal prosecutions of tax offenses and resolution procedures for civil tax matters gives her clients a strategic advantage when facing potential enforcement actions, be they criminal, civil or regulatory.

At Carlton Fields, Valerie focuses her practice on white collar defense, internal investigations, regulatory enforcement, and tax controversy. She counsels corporations and individuals facing DOJ, SEC, IRS, CFTC, and state attorney general investigations, advising on every stage from initial inquiry through trial, resolution, or compliance remediation. She is particularly skilled in managing sensitive, multifront investigations where criminal, civil, and regulatory risks intersect.

Her combined enforcement and litigation experience enables her to provide pragmatic, strategic guidance to clients facing government scrutiny.

Throughout her career, Valerie has been recognized for her integrity, strategic judgment, and ability to manage large-scale investigations with discretion and precision. She is valued by clients for her clear communication style, command of the courtroom, respect she has earned from judicial officers, and her capacity to translate intricate legal issues into beneficial, actionable, business-oriented strategies.

Based in Carlton Fields’ Los Angeles office, Valerie plays an instrumental role in expanding the firm’s white-collar defense and investigations practice on the West Coast. She collaborates closely with colleagues across the firm’s offices to deliver seamless counsel on investigations, litigation, and compliance matters nationwide.

Valerie is certified as an anti-money laundering specialist by the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists.

• American Bar Association
  • Litigation Section
  • Tax Section
  • Criminal Justice Section
• California Lawyers Association
  • Criminal Law Section
  • Litigation Section
  • Taxation Section
• Federal Bar Association, Los Angeles Chapter
  • Section on Taxation
• Beverly Hills Bar Association
  • Tax Section
  • Litigation Section
• Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles