Kelly Wood is a highly skilled labor and employment lawyer who defends companies in a broad range of matters, including those involving alleged disability and employment discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour violations, government investigations, retaliation and wrongful termination actions, and trade secret misappropriation matters.
Kelly frequently represents employers in class actions on both the trial and appeal level. In addition, she guides clients through individual employment-related litigation, mediation, arbitration, and administrative agency charges. She regularly counsels and advises companies on the implementation of practices and policies, employee grievances, compliance with federal and state labor and employment laws, disability accommodations, leaves of absences, employment termination, lay-offs, demotion decisions, employment agreements, and employee handbooks. Additionally, Kelly frequently provides training workshops on these topics for clients.
Kelly understands the complexities and sensitive nature of labor and employment law. She provides responsive service to her clients and dedicates her time to obtaining practical solutions to their issues.
- Prevailed on summary judgment on causation grounds in claims brought against airline by pilots and flight attendants who claimed their work uniforms caused myriad health issues. Zurbriggen v. Twin Hill Acquisition Co., Inc., et al., 2025 WL 1092973 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 11, 2025).
- Prevailed in arbitration of grievance brought by flight attendants’ union against airline asserting violations of the parties’ CBA by allegedly imposing an unreasonable workload on flight attendants on multiple routes flown by the airline. Ass’n of Pro. Flight Attendants v. Am. Airlines, Inc., Case No. SS-81-2020-APFA (Dec. 30, 2024) (Weinstock, Arb.)
- Prevailed on motion to dismiss on multiple grounds including judicial estoppel and collateral estoppel inaction asserting claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act brought by former pilot against airline. Meadows v. Am. Airlines, No. 1:24-CV-20518, 2024 WL 5245945 (S.D. Fla. Dec. 30, 2024).
- Prevailed on summary judgment in litigation against airline brought by two former flight attendants alleging a litany of claims, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Beckman et al. v. Am. Airlines, Inc., et al., No. CV 23-07410-MWF, 2024 WL 3469049 (C.D. Cal., June 28, 2024).
- Prevailed on summary judgment in lawsuit brought by employees of an airline asserting claims for race discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment. Fields v. Am. Airlines, Inc., 2023 WL 6391689 (E.D. Pa., Sept. 29, 2023), aff’d (3d Cir. July 25, 2024).
- Prevailed on motion to dismiss in collective action brought by 600 flight attendants against an airline alleging a voluntary early out program offered by the airline in response to the Covid 19 pandemic violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Kincheloe v. Am. Airlines, Inc., No. 210CV-00515-BLF, 2022 WL 1409235 (N.D. Cal. May 4, 2022), aff’d, 2023 WL 3299989 (9th Cir. May 8, 2023).
- Prevailed on motion to dismiss wage and hour claims against airline without leave to amend based on exemptions for employees covered by a CBA under the Railway Labor Act. Lujano v. Piedmont Airlines, Inc., 734 F.Supp.3d 988, 992 (C.D. Cal. 2024).
- Prevailed in arbitration of two grievances brought by airline pilots alleging their employment was terminated without just cause when they engaged in racist misconduct on social media.
- Successfully defeated motion for class certification in California wage and hour putative class action against an airline alleging violations of the California Labor Code. Solis v. American Airlines, Inc., No. CV1910181PSGAFMX, 2022 WL 4359556 (C.D. Cal., Sept. 13, 2022).
- Successfully defeated motion for class certification in California wage and hour putative class action against an airline alleging violations of the California Labor Code for non-exempt, non-unionized employees. Kouchi v. American Airlines, Inc., No. CV187802PSGAGRX, 2021 WL 6104391 (C.D. Cal., Oct. 27, 2021).
- Represented airline in pattern and practice investigation, conciliation, and settlement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding an alleged pattern and practice of discriminating against and failing to accommodate disabled employees and applicants.
- Represented national broadcasting network in arbitration allegation breach of contract by a high-profile news anchor.
- Representing the University of California in pattern and practice investigations brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Justice
- Representing Fortune 500 shoe company in class action alleging gender discrimination, and individual actions including claims for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
- Representing airline in five wage and hour putative class actions asserting violation of California labor laws.
- Representing nationwide jewelry retail chain in two wage and hour actions brought pursuant to the California Private Attorney General Act of 2004.
- Representing airline in wage and hour class action alleging violation of California labor laws.
- Representing airline in nationwide class action brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act, claiming airline discriminated against disabled employees and failed to provide reasonable accommodations or engage in the interactive process.
- Representing fortune 500 automobile company in action by former inhouse counsel alleging discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
- Representing international airline in wage and hour class action alleging violations of the California labor code.
- Representing airline in a wage and hour putative class action alleging violations of the California labor code for food service workers in California lounges
- Obtained favorable summary judgment rulings for specialty food store chain in numerous discrimination matters
- Obtained favorable summary judgment ruling for Fortune 500 tax preparation company in nationwide class and collective action alleging failure to provide compensation for continuing education to 40,000 class members
- Obtained favorable summary judgment ruling for national home loan company in class action related to payment of severance
- Obtained favorable ruling in arbitration in a retaliation case against nationwide cable television provider
- Obtained favorable ruling in arbitration against school district related to alleged violations of collective bargaining agreement
- Obtained asylum for Syrian individual seeking refuge in America due to sexual orientation persecution
- Represented international airline in EEOC investigation
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- US District Court, Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Education
- Chapman University, J.D.: magna cum laude; Articles Editor, Chapman Law Review; CALI Awards in Evidence, Federal Income Tax, Gender and the Law, Criminal Procedure and Police Practices, Land Use Regulation, Legal and Equitable Remedies, and Torts I
- State University of New York at Buffalo, B.F.A., Sculpture: cum laude
Honors & Awards
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense (2024) and Labor-Management Relations (2022)
Professional Activities
Member
- Orange County Bar Association
Related Practices
Related Industries