Edward Alan Woods
Partner Emeritus
ewoods@akingump.com
Biography
- Handled a wide variety of complex commercial litigation.
Edward Woods retired from the partnership in 2017. His practice focused on complex commercial litigation and entertainment litigation in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration.
Edward represented entrepreneurs, manufacturers, retail establishments, real estate developers and syndicators, entertainers, film production and distribution companies, lawyers and law firms.
Representative Work
- Represented the trustees of a half-billion-dollar trust as defendants in a four-week jury trial focused on whether the trust had breached its promissory note and security agreement with plaintiff (a private third-party company), in which a complete defense verdict was rendered. Plaintiff was seeking $400 million in damages.
- Obtained a $60 million verdict in a partnership dissolution case involving one of the most successful and popular denim jeans companies in the country.
- Achieved a seven-figure verdict representing a nationally known designer and manufacturer of women’s handbags, belts and accessories against its importing agent.
- Represented a large law firm and its name partners sued by another partner for pregnancy discrimination. After a one-month trial, the jury returned a defense verdict as to the firm and all individuals.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a major television producer and his wife who were sued for malicious prosecution.
EducationJ.D., University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, 1972
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1968
J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, 1972
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1968
Bar AdmissionsCalifornia
California
Recognitions
- Martindale-Hubbell and AV Preeminent Attorney and honoree, Judicial Edition, 2017.
- Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2010 to 2018.
- Daily Journal “Top Verdicts” of 2012 for “Top Defense Verdicts” in the successful and precedent-setting representation of the trustees in the $380 million suit filed by Zacadia Financial Ltd. in the case of the estate of the Herbalife founder.
- Daily Journal “Top Verdicts” of 2010 for “Top Defense Verdicts” in the successful representation of the Mark Hughes Family Trust in opposing claim for more than $3 million in legal fees by attorneys for the guardian of the estate.
Affiliations and Public Service
- Member, board of directors, KCRW Foundation.
- Member, board of directors, Phase One Board.
- Member, board of advisors, Schireson Associates.
- Member, board of advisors, Your Golden Ticket.
- Volunteer, Peace Corps, Libya, 1968 to 1969.
Speeches and Publications
- Panelist, “Navigating the Minefields of Fiduciary Liability and Founder/Fund Transactions.” Akin seminar, New York, October 7, 2015.
