Marcia E. Goodman primarily represents global employers on a wide range of US and cross-border employment law matters. In addition, she co-leads the firm’s Japan Client Initiative, a program aimed at strengthening and expanding Mayer Brown’s ability to serve Japanese clients.
She defends employers in federal class claims of race, age, sex, disability, national origin discrimination under EEO laws (e.g., reductions in force, promotions, sexual harassment, discriminatory terms, and conditions of employment) and in pattern and practice discrimination claims by the EEOC, as well as defending employee benefit plans and employers in ERISA class actions.
Marcia also defends employers in litigation involving individual claims, such as a wide variety of EEO actions (race, age, national origin, sex, disability), Section 301 actions and Duty of Fair Representation Actions under collective bargaining agreements, Whistleblower claims under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, federal and state court actions involving disputes over employment contracts, defamation, fraud, tortious interference with employment or business opportunity, FMLA actions, wage and hour issues, independent contractor/employee status, post-employment competition, and misappropriation of trade secrets.
She defends employee benefit plans and employers against challenges to plan interpretation of medical plans, the application of severance pay plans, the formula for calculating benefits and payment terms under defined benefit plans, retiree medical and other benefit changes, deferred compensation plan interpretation and changes, alleged fiduciary breaches in investments and use of plan assets, characterization of alleged plan assets, and independent contractor/employee status challenges.
In addition to her litigation experience, Marcia has significant experience with administrative proceedings. She represents employers before the EEOC and state human rights agencies (administrative charges and hearings), the National Labor Relations Board (unfair labor practice claims, unit determinations, election proceedings) and the Department of Labor (Veterans Rights, Whistleblower actions under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act).
Her mediation and arbitration experience encompasses issues such as utilizing mediation effectively in the context of class action litigation resolution, representing employers in employment contract dispute arbitrations and private mediations, court and agency-sponsored formal mediation programs, and labor arbitrations under collective bargaining agreements.
Marcia’s trial work includes temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction work, bench trials and jury trials. Her appellate work includes arguing cases before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Illinois Appellate Court and the Illinois Supreme Court. She has also filed a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court.
In addition to her trial, appellate, administrative, and alternate dispute resolution experience, Marcia provides transactional services and advises clients on a wide range of employment matters, including terms of employment, policies and practices, executive investigations, employment terminations, diversity, collective labor issues, employment benefits, covenants not to compete and trade secrets, business transactions, and independent contractor and related employee issues.
Marcia also advises foreign-owned companies on employee issues, national origin and diversity issues, employment status of seconded or jointly employed employees, and manager training regarding US employment sensitivities.
Education :
- Tokyo University
- Harvard Law School, JD
- University of Michigan, MA, Japanese Studies
- University of Michigan, AB, with high honors
Admissions :
- District of Columbia
- US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Trial Bar of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- US District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Activities :
- Executive Committee, Director of the Japan America Society of Chicago
- Adjunct faculty in deposition training program
- American Bar Association, Section on Labor and Employment Relations, Section on Litigation, Section on International Law
- Lincoln Park Juniors Rowing Club (“Changing the Face of Junior Rowing”)
Cost
Rate : $$$