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  1. Professionals

Emilie Woodhead

Of Counsel

Los Angeles

+1 213-615-1823

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  • Overview
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Emilie has 20 years of experience in the full range of employment litigation and counseling. She concentrates her practice on wage and hour class action litigation, as well as advising employers in wage and hour compliance under California and federal law. Emilie also regularly handles matters involving claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Emilie has defended employers in over 50 wage and hour class/collective actions involving a variety of wage and hour issues and claims, such as: exempt employee misclassification, independent contractor misclassification, “off the clock”, meal and rest periods, reimbursement of business expenses, unpaid vacation, failure to provide suitable seating, failure to properly calculate the regular rate of pay, and PAGA. Emilie has defeated class certification of California claims and conditional certification in nationwide FLSA actions a number of times.  

Emilie also handles all aspects of single-plaintiff litigation, including claims for discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination. She has secured summary judgment in multiple cases.

Emilie also uses her deep experience and knowledge of employment laws to help employers comply with state and federal laws and regulations through counseling, developing and drafting employment policies, and preparing agreements.

Recent Experience

Secured Settlement in California Wage & Hour Class Action
Early Mediation Leads to Quick Settlement in Wage & Hour Class Action
Defeated Class Certification in Wage & Hour Case for MedTech Company
Prevailed on Demurrer and Opposition to Motion for Leave to Amend in Wage and Hour/PAGA Class Action
Negotiated Extremely Favorable Settlement and Indemnification in Wage and Hour Class Action
Achieved Significant Victory When Court Denied Rule 23 Motion to Certify a Class
Voluntary Dismissal of Class and Collective Action in Nationwide Age Discrimination Case
Used Plaintiff’s Own Admissions in Deposition to Undercut Plaintiff’s Claims in Wage & Hour Class/Collective Action
Advised Fortune 100 Manufacturing Company in Systemic Discrimination/Toxic Culture Investigation

  • Board Member, Employment Authority Wage & Hour Editorial Advisory Board, Law360 (2023)
  • Member, Los Angeles Association of Business Trial Lawyers 
  • Board Member of a nonprofit organization (RIE)

Capabilities

Labor & Employment
Litigation/Trials
Trade Secrets, Non Competes & Restrictive Covenants
Public Companies

Recent Experience

Secured Settlement in California Wage & Hour Class Action
Early Mediation Leads to Quick Settlement in Wage & Hour Class Action
Defeated Class Certification in Wage & Hour Case for MedTech Company
Prevailed on Demurrer and Opposition to Motion for Leave to Amend in Wage and Hour/PAGA Class Action
Negotiated Extremely Favorable Settlement and Indemnification in Wage and Hour Class Action
Achieved Significant Victory When Court Denied Rule 23 Motion to Certify a Class
Voluntary Dismissal of Class and Collective Action in Nationwide Age Discrimination Case
Used Plaintiff’s Own Admissions in Deposition to Undercut Plaintiff’s Claims in Wage & Hour Class/Collective Action
Advised Fortune 100 Manufacturing Company in Systemic Discrimination/Toxic Culture Investigation

Credentials

Education

Emilie received a J.D. in 2005 from the University of California at Los Angeles, where she was a member of the Women’s Law Journal and a Moot Court Honors member. She received a B.A. in philosophy from the University of California at Berkeley in 2001.

    Admissions
    • California

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    Capabilities

    Labor & Employment
    Litigation/Trials
    Trade Secrets, Non Competes & Restrictive Covenants
    Public Companies
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