PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Mr. Woods’ civil litigation and arbitration practice includes trials and appeals in federal and state court, with an emphasis on business litigation, family law and real estate. His business litigation experience includes the representation of manufacturers, banks, securities and transportation brokers, utility companies and individuals in cases involving such diverse subjects as civil RICO, fraud, shareholder rights, Merchandise Act claims, breach of contract, personal injury, and terms and conditions of employment.

His family law practice regularly includes contested divorce cases involving a wide range of issues such as child support, division of property and child custody. Mr. Woods has been specially retained to focus on valuing business interests, including professional practices. Subjects of his family law cases handled on appeal include the enforceability of pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, maintenance (alimony), rights after traumatic injuries, and the determination of marital/separate property rights in lengthy marriages.

His real estate cases have included eminent domain, zoning, contractor/developer disputes, professional liability and numerous contract disputes. Other matters he has briefed and argued on appeal include cases involving the Missouri Franchise Act, fraud, and tortious interference with business expectancies.

Mr. Woods has been recognized by the Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Family Law and as a Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyer in  Business Litigation.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Represented national tractor distributor and obtained summary judgment in defense of Franchise Act, fraud and tortious interference claims in federal court
• Represented transportation broker and obtained summary judgment in defense of civil RICO claims brought by Fortune 500 company. Ultimately prevailed in an arbitration hearing on associated claims for over $3 million
• Represented physicians in business partnership disputes
• Represented individual partners in law firms related to contested family law matters
• Represented owners (and spouses, at times) of St. Louis companies in contested divorces addressing the value of their company ownership interests
• Represented employers and employees in employment discrimination claims
• Represented trusts in obtaining summary judgment against trailer park owners for over $1 million in breach of contract claim
• Represented not for profit entity in defending against attempted employee takeover
• Represented real estate purchasers against shopping mall owner/seller in obtaining $870,000 judgment
• Represented individual in obtaining judgment against brokerage company for over $1 million dollars in damages for conversion of securities in violation of its internal policies
• Represented commercial heater manufacturer in pursuing damages associated with a component part producer’s breach of warranties
• Represented spouse suffering traumatic brain injury in suit to modify/extend maintenance payments beyond the original termination date
• Represented IT company in enforcing terms of acquisition agreement
• Represented securities brokers in defense of claims alleging breach of brokers’ duties
• Represented various builders, individuals and neighborhood associations regarding the enforcement of zoning provisions and indenture agreements.
• Represented individual builders for construction code violations
• Represented utility companies, banks and bakery in defense of employment discrimination claims
• Represented numerous companies and individuals regarding cases relating to the terms and conditions of employment
• Represented shareholder and corporations in shareholder rights actions