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Valerie Hughes

Senior Counsel

Senior Counsel |

T: 613.683.2302

Ottawa

Hughes Valerie
 
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

T: 613.683.2302


Ottawa

  • Bar Admissions
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

Clients benefit from Valerie Hughes’ unrivalled experience in international trade and WTO law.

She has served as counsel for the Government of Canada before WTO panels and the organization’s Appellate Body, as an adjudicator in WTO disputes, and as the only person to have served as both Director of the WTO’s Legal Affairs Division (2010-16) and Director of its Appellate Body Secretariat (2001-05).

Valerie has been involved in more than 70 WTO disputes. These include challenges in the Canadian auto industry, softwood lumber and seafood exports. She brings a unique perspective to WTO dispute settlement—having served as counsel, judge, or advisor to WTO judges.

Valerie is one of Canada’s leading lawyers in international treaty law. She argued Canada’s first investor-state dispute under the NAFTA. She represented Canada before the International Court of Justice in a dispute with the United States over the fishing grounds off Canada’s east coast, and before an international tribunal that determined the international maritime boundary off Newfoundland and the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

Valerie is a member of the pool of arbitrators for the WTO Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arrangement, has been named to the Roster of Panel Chairs for the CPTPP and is also a member of the Roster of Panelists under Article 31 of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) as well as the binational panel roster under Chapter 10 of the CUSMA.

Valerie served in senior counsel and leadership positions in her 22 years with the Government of Canada. She was most recently Assistant Deputy Minister and Counsel to the Department of Finance. She also served in the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

In 2019, Valerie won the OBA Award of Excellence in International Law. The award recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions in the practice of international law in Ontario through leadership, expertise, professionalism, enhancing the practice in Ontario and contributions to legal education.

In 2016, Valerie was awarded the John E. Read medal by the Canadian Council on International Law for her distinguished contribution to international law and organizations. She is currently a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation.

Valerie has written numerous articles on the WTO dispute settlement and on international maritime boundary arbitration.

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 1981

Recent Recognition

Canadian Council on International Law
Awarded the John E. Read Medal
Chambers Canada
Ranked, International Trade/WTO
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Repeatedly Recommended, International Trade Regulation

Insights, News & Events

In the News

Valerie Hughes on Canada-UK Trade in CBA National

January 21, 2021
       

Blog

The Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement: Deepening Ties Between Canada and the U.K.

December 17, 2020
       

Announcements

40 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Special Edition on Litigation

November 27, 2020
       

Podcast

International Trade: Canada's Relationships With Its Key Trading Partners

October 22, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Recognized in Chambers Canada 2021

September 10, 2020
       

Articles

Valerie Hughes in ABA's International Trade Year in Review

August 19, 2020
       

Announcements

Valerie Hughes Selected as Arbitrator for WTO Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement

August 17, 2020
       

Blog

The Stakes Are High in Global Trade, and Canada Should Help

May 15, 2020
       

Articles

Valerie Hughes on Modernizing the World Trade Organization

April 20, 2020
       

Speaking Engagements

Moving Forward from the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Paralysis

April 20, 2020
       

Speaking Engagements

Valerie Hughes on The Impact of COVID-19 on International Trade

April 20, 2020
       

Blog

Trade Implications of COVID-19 from a Canadian Perspective

April 02, 2020
       

Articles

Approaches to Modernizing the Dispute Settlement Understanding

April 2020
       

Speaking Engagements

Valerie Hughes on Canadian Women in Trade Policy on IWD 2020

March 09, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Celebrates International Women's Day 2020

March 06, 2020
       

In the News

Valerie Hughes on Improved CUSMA Panels

January 21, 2020
       

Articles

Adjudicating International Trade Cases in the WTO Does Gender Make a Difference?

2020
       

Blog

What's Next for the WTO?

December 12, 2019
       

Speaking Engagements

Valerie Hughes on Agriculture and International Trade

December 10, 2019
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Top-Tier in The Legal 500

November 18, 2019
       

Updates

Bennett Jones Fall 2019 Economic Outlook

November 12, 2019
       

In the News

The Lawyer's Daily on Valerie Hughes

November 06, 2019
       

Announcements

Valerie Hughes Named to Roster of Panel Chairs for CPTPP

November 05, 2019
       

In the News

Valerie Hughes on Gender Chapters in Trade Agreements: Sound Policy?

October 09, 2019
       

Announcements

Valerie Hughes Wins OBA Award of Excellence in International Law

October 07, 2019
       

Blog

Canada Seeks Input on New Members for the CPTPP Agreement

August 06, 2019
       

Updates

Bennett Jones Spring 2019 Economic Outlook

June 04, 2019
       

Speaking Engagements

Valerie Hughes on International Law at a Crossroads

May 31, 2019
       

In the News

Valerie Hughes on E-Commerce and the WTO

May 27, 2019
       

In the News

Valerie Hughes on CUSMA and Dispute Settlement

March 28, 2019
       

In the News

Valerie Hughes on CUSMA and Dispute Settlement

March 28, 2019
       

Blog

The Business Council of Canada’s Task Force on Canada’s Economic Future and WTO Reform

February 14, 2019
       

Announcements

Valerie Hughes in The Globe Post on WTO Reform

November 30, 2018
       

Updates

Bennett Jones Fall 2018 Economic Outlook

November 27, 2018
       

In the News

Valerie Hughes on WTO Reform

November 05, 2018
       

Announcements

Valerie Hughes Joins Bennett Jones’ Ottawa Office

October 31, 2018
       

Blog

Updating the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism is Critical for Canadian Business

October 29, 2018
       

Articles

Canada: A Key Player in WTO Dispute Settlement

February 01, 2018
       

Articles

Reflections on Canada’s Past, Present and Future in International Law

2018
       

Articles

The Role of Legal Advisers in International Law

2017
       

Articles

Brexit and International Trade: One Year After the Referendum

June 02, 2016
       

Articles

Working in WTO Dispute Settlement: Pride Without Prejudice

November 01, 2015
       

Articles

Some Thoughts on Food Security and the Law of the World Trade Organisation

Fall 2015
       

Articles

WTO rule-making: WTO Accession Protocols and Jurisprudence

January 12, 2015
       

Articles

Food for Thought: The Bali Package and WTO Dispute Settlement Post-Bali

September 2014
       

Articles

WTO and trade in natural resources

2013
       

Articles

The Institutional Dimension

2009
       

Articles

The Strengths, Weaknesses and Future of WTO Appellate Review

2008
       

Articles

Accomplishments of the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism

2007
       

Articles

The WTO dispute settlement system - from initiating proceedings to ensuring implementation

2006
       

Articles

WTO Dispute Settlement: Past, Present and Future

May 2005
       

Articles

Special challenges at the appellate stage: a case study

2005
       

Articles

The WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism: A Success Story

May 2004
       

Articles

Arbitration Within the WTO

2004
       

Related Services

International Trade & Investment
Governmental Affairs & Public Policy
WTO Law & Policy

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