Matthew H. Woodard

Matthew H. Woodard is a principal in the White Plains, New York, office of Jackson Lewis P.C., where serving as advisor and advocate, he brings a proactive, collaborative approach to client service.

As a litigator, Matthew has defended companies against claims of employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, unpaid wages, breach of contract and whistleblowing. He is an experienced advocate at the trial and appellate levels of federal and state courts, in arbitration, and at administrative agencies, such as the EEOC, OSHA, Division of Human Rights and Department of Labor. He works regularly with clients in the construction, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, and retail industries.

As an advisor, Matthew partners with management and boards of directors to help clients avoid, minimize and manage legal risks. He is regularly called on to provide advice regarding highly sensitive matters, such as internal investigations, employee relations, and other issues that arise in the workplace. Matthew also serves as e-discovery counsel. In this role, he manages complex document review projects in connection with litigation as well as investigations.

Matthew was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. In his free time, he can often be found coaching, playing, or watching soccer, or volunteering for his local youth soccer club. While attending law school, Matthew was elected editor in chief of the Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal. He also clerked in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York as well as Nassau County Supreme Court.

Honors and Recognitions

• Martindale-Hubbell®, "AV Preeminent® - Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence" (2013-present)
• New York Super Lawyers®, "Rising Stars" (2013-2017)

Selected Cases

• Alvarez v. Rosa, No. 11-cv-3818 (KBF), 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25693 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 28, 2012)
• DeBono v. Washington Mut. Bank, No. 05-cv-10333 (DC), 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89283 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 8, 2006)
• Dobson v. Parsons Corp., No. 5:12-cv-0190 (GTS/ATB), 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 141970 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2013)
• Grant v. Abbott House, No. 14-cv-8703 (NSR), 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21195 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 22, 2016)
• Jackson v. Syracuse Newspapers, No. 5:10-cv-01362 (NAM/DEP), 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 138171 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2013), aff’d, 574 Fed. Appx. 36 (2d Cir. 2014)
• Rolle v. Educ. Bus Transp., Inc., No. 11 Civ. 3855 (SJF)(AKT), 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45587 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 11, 2014), adopted by 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44438 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2014)
• Rolle v. Educ. Bus Transp., Inc., No. 13 Civ. 1729 (SJF)(AKT), 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132046 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 8, 2014), adopted by 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 131745 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 17, 2014)
• Riordan v. BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., No. 1:08-cv-1229 (LEK/DRH), 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3906 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 14, 2011)
• Rumsey v. Northeast Health, Inc., 89 F. Supp. 3d 316 (N.D.N.Y. 2015), aff’d, 634 Fed. Appx. 318 (2d Cir. 2016)
• Youngs v. Lord Chamberlain Nursing & Rehab. Ctr., No. 3:08CV1217 (MRK), 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135789 (D. Ct. Nov. 10, 2008)
• Zangara v. Total Safety Consulting, LLC, et al., No 711429/19, 2020 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 9762 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Sept. 8, 2020)

Published Works

• "A Call for Clarification: Achieving a Uniform Proof Structure in Reasonable Accommodation Cases Under the Americans With Disabilities Act," Hofstra Labor and Employment Law Journal (Fall 2003) [Co-Author]

Speeches

• The Electronic Landscape: Challenges and Significant Legal Issues for Employers 
• The In’s & Out’s of Unemployment Law: A Mock Unemployment Insurance Hearing 
• Email Etiquette – It’s Not Just About Good Manners
• Effectively Handling a Charge of Discrimination, Including Charges Before the “New” Division of Human Rights 
• Creating a Strategic Partnership with your Information Technology Department to Meet Today’s Human Resources Challenges 
• Old Regulations – New Regulations: Who’s Exempt Now? 
• Workplace Wellness Meets Employment Law: Eat Your Veggies or Else?