Marcia Goodman

Marcia 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.

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.

Marcia studied law at Tokyo University and worked in Japan. She speaks and reads Japanese comfortably.