Ann-MarieWoods

Associate

Chicago + 1.312.269.4156

Ann-Marie Woods represents and advises employers in a variety of complex labor and employment matters that includes wage and hour class and collective actions and discrimination disputes. Her litigation experience includes claims arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Railway Labor Act, and other federal, state, and local employment laws. Ann-Marie also has experience representing employers in administrative proceedings before federal and state agencies, including wage and hour investigations and discrimination and harassment charges. She frequently counsels employers regarding compliance with employment laws, review of company policies, internal investigations and audits, restrictive covenant agreements, and employment-related diligence on national and international transactions.

Ann-Marie recently second-chaired a five-day federal jury trial involving a former employee's Title VII sexual harassment and state law defamation claims, which resulted in a full defense verdict in favor of Jones Day's client. She also was on the trial team representing a national fast food franchisor in the company's joint employer litigation before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Ann-Marie maintains an active pro bono practice that includes participating in the Firm's Laredo Project, representing individuals in asylum proceedings, and working on the ground in the Laredo, Texas detention facility counseling individuals seeking asylum in the United States. She also has worked with the Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) as an advocate for tenants facing eviction. In addition, she serves as an officer on the Emerging Leaders Board for Bounce Children's Foundation.

Experience

  • Riverside sells Camelot Education to Specialized Education Services, Inc.Jones Day represented The Riverside Company in connection with the sale of portfolio company CHG Alt Ed Holding Company, Inc. d/b/a Camelot Education, a private educational service provider, to Specialized Education Services, Inc.
  • McDonald’s successfully resolves groundbreaking NLRB litigationJones Day successfully represented McDonald's USA, LLC and McDonald's Restaurants of Illinois, Inc., in the largest consolidated National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) litigation matter ever and one of the most important labor cases in the United States today.
  • United Airlines wins dismissal with prejudice in USERRA class actionThe court granted Jones Day's motion to dismiss a putative class action with prejudice on behalf of United Airlines Inc. involving a novel theory of liability under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act ("USERRA").
  • Verizon prevails in sexual harassment and defamation jury trialJones Day client Verizon secured a complete defense verdict in a five-day sexual harassment and defamation jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
  • WMATA engages advisors for executive boardJones Day is serving as the strategic executive advisor to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's General Manager/Chief Executive Officer and its Board of Directors in connection with its efforts to evaluate its finances, operations, and governance.
  • Confluence acquired by TA AssociatesJones Day advised Confluence Technologies, Inc., a financial services data management software development company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in its acquisition by private equity firm TA Associates.
  • Digital Bridge acquires DataBankJones Day advised Digital Bridge Holdings, LLC, an investment firm that owns and operates communications infrastructure assets, on its acquisition of DataBank, Ltd., a leading North American provider of enterprise-class data center solutions including colocation, managed services, as well as cloud and network services, from Avista Capital Partners.
  • Shiseido Americas acquires Gurwitch ProductsJones Day advised Shiseido Americas Corporation ("Shiseido Americas"), a subsidiary of Shiseido Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange, First Section: 4911), a leading global cosmetics company, in connection with the acquisition of Gurwitch Products, LLC ("Gurwitch") from Alticor, Inc.
  • naviHealth acquires CuraspanJones Day advised naviHealth Inc., a Cardinal Health company, in its acquisition of Curaspan Health Group Inc., a privately held leading provider of care transition tools for hospitals and post-acute healthcare providers.
  • Eight years after original hearing, Jones Day secures asylum on remand for Guatemalan gay manIn December 2006, at just 17 years old, C.C. fled to the United States after three armed men threatened, kidnapped, beat, raped, and nearly killed him simply because he is gay.