W. Allen Woolley

Allen Woolley is a partner in the Litigation Department of Wildman Harrold. He has a wide range of experience in complex environmental, employment, product liability, and commercial matters. He has tried cases in both state and federal courts and has acted as lead counsel on numerous litigation matters and appeals. In the environmental area, Allen has successfully defended major class action and mass tort lawsuits involving air and groundwater contamination, industrial accidents, and radioactive materials. Allen has also counseled and defended clients in discrimination and harassment cases, including a number of high-profile EEOC and private class actions, and has extensive experience representing insolvent clients in bankruptcy litigation, counseling clients on product liability matters, and handling commercial and securities cases.

Representative Experience:

Environmental

Member of trial team in landmark environmental case, Baker v. Motorola, alleging diminution in property values in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona as a result of trichloroethylene in groundwater. Complete defense verdict included in the National Law Journal’s “Top Defense Verdicts” for 2001.
Member of trial team in high-profile class action brought against nuclear weapons facility contractors alleging diminution in property values due to release of plutonium
Represented operator of Uranium mill in personal injury action brought by 200 plaintiffs alleging exposure to radioactive materials from Uranium mill operations. All claims dismissed voluntarily or following summary judgment.
Represented chemical manufacturer in mass tort action brought by thousands of plaintiffs alleging chemical exposure following tank car explosion. Scope of case significantly limited by successful challenge to key medical and causation experts.

Commercial Litigation

Lead partner in successful defense of $30 million breach of guarantee action in bankruptcy court. Disallowance of claims upheld by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
Lead litigation partner in bankruptcy adversary proceeding involving more than $60 million in claims against the estate of a major airline. Settlement permitted successful confirmation of plan of reorganization.
Represented medical equipment supplier in preliminary injunction proceedings relating to $50 million bid to provide hospital equipment
Represented major venture capital firm in wind-down of insolvent subsidiary and related litigation. Coordinated litigation of over a dozen lawsuits in three states and negotiated global settlement of shareholder derivative action.
Represented and advised major automobile parts manufacturer and other manufacturers in numerous products liability and product recall matters
Represented air freshener manufacturer in class action alleging product defect. Defeated class certification and achieved favorable settlements in individual actions.

Employment & Labor

Represented major securities firm in a high-profile EEOC class action alleging gender discrimination against female traders and salespeople
Lead partner representing former employer in several lawsuits alleging breaches of contract, fiduciary duty, and non-compete agreements in connection with the movement of high level personnel to competing firms
Represented international construction firm in EEOC class action alleging racial and sexual harassment at a major construction site. Lead partner in several related harassment and discrimination cases.

Reported Decisions:

Platten v. HG Bermuda Exempted Ltd., 437 F.3d 118 (1st Cir. 2006)
Joy v. Hay Group, Inc., 403 F.3d 875 (7th Cir. 2005)
Malone v. Foster Wheeler Constructors, Inc., 2001 WL 1263664 (7th Cir. 2001)
Hay Group, Inc. v. Bassick, 2005 WL 2420415 (N.D. Ill. 2005)
EEOC v. Morgan Stanley & Co., 324 F. Supp. 2d 451 (S.D.N.Y. 2004)
In re Harnischfeger Industries, Inc., 316 B.R. 616 (D. Del. 2003)
EEOC v. Foster Wheeler Constructors, Inc., 1999 WL 528196 (N.D. Ill. 1999)
EEOC v. Foster Wheeler Constructors, Inc., 1999 WL 515524 (N.D. Ill. 1999)

Pro Bono Activity:

Court appointed counsel and lead partner in excessive force case alleging unlawful beating of detainees by Cook County Jail guards
Lead partner in class action against Illinois Department of Correction alleging that inmates in special management unit were subject to unlawful conditions of confinement. Case settled favorably.

Bar Admissions:

Colorado, 1991

Illinois, 1995

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar member)

U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona

Personal Information:

Allen lives in Chicago with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys skiing, running, and collecting wine.

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