Samantha C.Woo

Associate

Chicago + 1.312.269.4074

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Samantha Woo represents employers in litigation matters, including collective and class action wage and hour cases and discrimination disputes, as well as labor management relations issues, including collective bargaining and unfair labor practice cases. She also counsels clients in connection with labor and employment issues that arise in mergers and acquisitions and other business transactions.

Samantha represents private employers, such as the Kraft Heinz Company, Abbott Laboratories, and Saputo, Inc., and public employers, such as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the City of Detroit. Among other matters she prevailed on behalf of Kraft Heinz in a grievance arbitration in which UFCW Local 538 sought plant closure retiree medical benefits for one of its members. Samantha also assisted in the development and implementation of the City of Detroit's labor strategy in connection with its historic chapter 9 bankruptcy and other restructuring matters.

With respect to pro bono work, Samantha recently helped to secure the early release from prison of an individual sentenced to mandatory life without parole at age 17 because he was tortured by Chicago police officers during their investigation of the crimes underlying his conviction. She also assisted a persecuted Eritrean citizen who grew up in Saudi Arabia in obtaining asylum in the United States.

Samantha is a member of the board of directors of the National Employment Law Council and co-chair of its Academy, co-chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Labor & Employment Committee, and a member of the Northwestern University School of Law Bluhm Legal Clinic's Advisory Board.

Experience

  • Notre Dame obtains reversal and complete victory in suit by fired tenured professorIn the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Jones Day secured a unanimous complete victory for the University of Notre Dame du Lac in a suit by a tenured professor, Oliver Collins, who challenged on several grounds his removal for having misused grant money.
  • Next Generation Films sold to Charter NEX Films, Inc. for $1.07 billionJones Day advised Next Generation Films, Inc. in its sale to Charter NEX Films, Inc., a manufacturer of specialty plastic films, for an aggregate purchase price of $1.07 billion.
  • Blackstone Group sells 757 room hotel in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaJones Day advised The Blackstone Group in connection with the sale of a 757 room full service hotel located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Conagra Brands acquires Pinnacle Foods for $10.9 billion in cash and stockJones Day advised Conagra Brands, Inc. in connection with the acquisition and related financing of Pinnacle Foods Inc. in a $10.9 billion merger.
  • 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.
  • Illinois victim of torture sentenced to life without parole at age 17 wins early releaseOur Jones Day team, working in collaboration with Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law’s Bluhm Legal Clinic and DLA Piper, helped to secure the early release of Jaime Hauad from prison because he had been subject to torture by Chicago police officers during their investigation of the crimes underlying his conviction.
  • Peterson Partners makes strategic investment in [solidcore]Jones Day represented Peterson Partners in connection with its strategic investment into [solidcore], a Washington D.C. headquartered boutique fitness brand with studios across the U.S.
  • AquaBounty completes purchase of Bell Fish Company's aquatic biomass farming facilityJones Day represented AquaBounty Technologies, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on enhancing productivity in the aquaculture market, in connection with its $14 million purchase of Bell Fish Company's aquatic biomass farming facility in Albany, Indiana.
  • Abbott obtains dismissals of eight complaints alleging citizenship discrimination in connection with outsourcing of information technology operationsJones Day client Abbott Laboratories obtained dismissals of complaints filed by eight former employees alleging that the company discriminated against them based upon their citizenship when it outsourced its information technology operations to a third party contracting company.
  • Hill-Rom acquires Mortara Instrument for $330 millionJones Day advised Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. in its acquisition of Mortara Instrument, Inc., a privately held leader in diagnostic cardiology and patient monitoring solutions, technologies, and devices, for $330 million in cash.
  • DataBank acquires data center facilities from 365 Data CentersJones Day advised DataBank, Ltd., a Digital Bridge portfolio company, in its acquisition of network neutral data center facilities in both Cleveland and Pittsburgh from 365 Data Centers.
  • Total sells Atotech to The Carlyle Group for $3.2 billionJones Day advised Total in the $3.2 billion sale of specialty chemical affiliate Atotech B.V., a global manufacturer of high technology plating solutions, to The Carlyle Group.
  • DataBank acquires C7 DataCenters, Inc.Jones Day advised DataBank Holdings Ltd. ("DataBank"), a portfolio company of Digital Bridge LLC, in connection with DataBank's acquisition of C7 DataCenters, Inc., a provider of data center services including colocation, cloud services, managed hosting, managed services, virtualization, business computer support, IT consulting services, and disaster recovery.
  • Kraft Heinz prevails in arbitration with UFCW seeking double pension benefits for former employeeJones Day client Kraft Heinz Foods Company prevailed in an arbitration involving a grievance filed by the UFCW, Local 538 seeking almost $200,000 in double pension benefits for a former employee in connection with the closure of the Cafeteria Department at the company's Madison, WI facility.
  • Kraft Heinz prevails in arbitration with UFCW regarding significant plant closure medical benefitsJones Day prevailed on behalf of Kraft Heinz Foods Company in a significant arbitration involving a grievance filed by UFCW, Local 538 seeking plant closure retiree medical benefits.
  • Kraft Heinz successfully negotiates with Teamsters Local 952Jones Day represented the Kraft Heinz Foods Company in successful negotiations with Teamsters Local 952 for a collective bargaining agreement covering over 300 bargaining unit employees at the Company's Fullerton, California facility.
  • TorQuest Partners acquires majority control of Polycor as part of merger with Swenson Granite and Rock of AgesJones Day advised TorQuest Partners, Inc. regarding the acquisition of a majority control of Polycor, Inc., as part of its merger with Swenson Granite and Rock of Ages, creating the largest dimensional stone company in North America, and the acquisition of Swenson Granite Company, LLC, a quarrier and cutter of granite.
  • Baird Capital acquires R2i HoldingsJones Day represented Baird Capital in connection with the acquisition and related financing of R2i Holdings, LLC, a leading independent agency which delivers technology driven multi-channel digital marketing solutions primarily to clients in the United States.
  • Alpha Natural Resources plan confirmed by U.S. Bankruptcy CourtOn July 12, 2016, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia entered an order confirming the Second Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. and 148 of its debtor affiliates, less than one year after Alpha, one of the largest coal companies in the United States, entered chapter 11 with liabilities of approximately $7.1 billion amidst the most challenging economic environment for coal producers in decades.
  • 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.
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    May 2021 Commentaries

    Illinois Restricts Employers From Using Conviction Records in Making Employment Decisions

    May 2021 Commentaries

    Illinois Employers Face Significant New Requirements, Penalties Under Equal Pay Act, Business Corporation Act Amendments

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