Experience
Ms. Woods has extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts, having tried more than 20 cases since graduating from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1984. She started her legal career in the Jackson County, Missouri Prosecutor’s office and later practiced in the areas of criminal defense, products liability and medical malpractice defense. Ms. Woods also has extensive civil and criminal appellate experience and has argued cases before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, Missouri Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court.
In January 2002, Ms. Woods joined Shaffer Lombardo Shurin (“SLS”) where she has focused on insurance defense litigation and complex business litigation. She has represented an insurance company in receivership in lawsuits against a Big Four accounting firm and two major investment banking firms. Ms. Woods also has represented doctors and dentists in a securities fraud case.
Professional
Ms. Woods is admitted to practice law before the State Bar of Missouri, the State Bar of Kansas, the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri and the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. Ms. Woods is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and the Kansas Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.
Education
Ms. Woods received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in journalism and secondary education from Indiana University in 1976. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas in 1984.
Personal
Ms. Woods is serving her second three-year term on the board of directors of a Florida condominium association. She is active in her church and has served as president of its parish council as well as co-chair of its capital campaign.