Samantha C.Woo

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 has experience conducting internal investigations, guiding clients through reductions-in-force, and counseling 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 in a grievance arbitration in which the union claimed wrongful termination of an employee who was discharged for engaging in harassing behavior. 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 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. She is also a member of the Northwestern University School of Law Bluhm Legal Clinic's Advisory Board.