Education
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University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2001
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Yale University, B.A., 1995
Bar Admissions
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District of Columbia
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Maryland
Court Admissions
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United States Supreme Court
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
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U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
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U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
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Ben Wood assists clients in federal and state litigation at the trial and appellate levels, and in government investigations and enforcement matters. Mr. Wood has represented individuals, corporations, political organizations, campaigns, and foreign governments in matters ranging from public corruption to campaign finance litigation.
Representative Matters
- Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster: Represented Massey Energy Company in criminal, administrative, and civil matters arising from the April 2010 fatal explosion at Massey’s Upper Big Branch mine.
- Represented a national home health care provider in parallel criminal and civil False Claims Act investigations led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, NJ. The global resolution included a Deferred Prosecution Agreement and civil settlements with the United States and more than 30 states.
- Represented Members of Congress in investigations by the Department of Justice Public Integrity Section, House Ethics Committee, Office of Congressional Ethics, and Federal Election Commission.
- United States v. BP Exploration Alaska, Inc.: Successfully represented a BPXA executive in a federal criminal investigation by the Anchorage United States Attorney's Office and the Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section stemming from the March 2006 oil pipeline leak at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, as well as in related civil proceedings.
- Successfully represented two individuals in a public corruption investigation of a House committee chairman.
- United States v. Aracoma Coal Company: Represented a coal company facing numerous mine safety felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from a January 2006 fatal mine fire. The favorable plea agreement included only a handful of charges, predominantly misdemeanors, and a fine well below the statutory maximum.
- United States v. White Buck Coal Company: Represented a coal company charged with multiple mine safety felonies. After extensive pre-trial litigation resulted in the government having to dismiss and re-indict three times, the government dismissed the indictment and permitted the company to plead to a single misdemeanor offense.
- In re UnitedHealth Group, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litigation: Represented a former UnitedHealth Group executive in connection with consolidated federal shareholder litigation arising from the company's alleged back-dating of stock options, successfully assisting him in appearing before, and making submissions to, the company's Special Litigation Committee, which ultimately issued a report concluding and recommending that all claims against the client be dismissed with prejudice.
- Represented an internet entrepreneur in parallel Federal Trade Commission and criminal investigations.
- International Bechtel Co., Ltd. v. Dep’t of Civil Aviation of the Govt. of Dubai, 360 F.Supp.2d 136 (D.D.C.2005): Obtained dismissal of the petition to confirm and enforce a $25 million foreign arbitration award in Bechtel’s favor that previously had been annulled by the Dubai courts.
- Republican Governors Association v. North Carolina State Board of Elections: Obtained summary judgments from the N.C. Office of Administrative Hearings and from the Wake County Superior Court overturning the Board’s assessment of a $200,000 fine for television advertisements aired in the 2004 gubernatorial election cycle. Obtained injunctions from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and from the Wake County Superior Court preventing the Board from taking further enforcement actions premised on those advertisements.
- Town of New Hartford v. John Rowland et al.: Obtained dismissal of claims against the Republican Governors Association alleging a wide-ranging conspiracy, including former Connecticut Governor John Rowland, to force a Connecticut state agency into a contract with Enron.
- Sykes v. Federal Election Commission, 335 F.Supp.2d 84 (D.D.C.2005): Obtained dismissal of injunctive claims against the National Republican Senatorial Committee for allegedly burdening plaintiff candidate’s First and Fifth Amendment rights. Obtained summary affirmance on appeal from a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
- Gaines v. Krawczyk, 354 F.Supp.2d 573 (W.D.Pa.2004): Obtained successful multi-million dollar settlement of wrongful death claims stemming from the defendant having furnished alcohol to a 19-year-old University of Pittsburgh football star.
- Submitted amicus curiae brief as counsel of record in the U.S. Supreme Court, on behalf of the Cato Institute, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and Davis v. Federal Election Commission.
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