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Elizabeth Woods is a seasoned workers’ compensation defense attorney representing insurers, professional employer organizations, and regional employers in high-volume claims throughout Florida. With a career spanning both defense and claimant-side representation, Elizabeth brings a balanced perspective to every matter.
Elizabeth has handled hundreds of workers’ compensation files at a time, developing early risk assessments, crafting litigation strategy, conducting discovery, and guiding claims toward resolution. While her practice centers on workers’ compensation defense, she brings experience in multiple areas of the law and has litigated and briefed appellate matters across diverse industries and regulatory frameworks.
Notably, her persistence in defending employer interests resulted in a groundbreaking appellate decision in Sedgwick CMS v. Valcourt-Williams, 271 So. 3d 1133 (Fla. 1st DCA 2019), often referred to as “the dog case.” In that matter, the First District Court of Appeal, sitting en banc, agreed with Elizabeth’s position and overturned the lower court’s decision, ultimately denying compensability for an accident arising from risks personal to the employee. The ruling gained statewide attention and continues to be studied by Florida workers’ compensation practitioners.
Prior to joining Chartwell, Elizabeth led her own practice, where she refined case-management processes to support high-volume litigation. In that role, she successfully reorganized practice groups to streamline workflows and enhance client service.
In addition to her litigation practice, Elizabeth served as Grievance Committee Chair of The Florida Bar, where she investigated attorney-ethics complaints and made disciplinary recommendations, a direct reflection of her commitment to ethical practice and the legal community. She is also active in pro bono service and is dedicated to giving back through volunteer legal work.
Elizabeth is licensed to practice in Florida and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. She earned her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, cum laude, from Georgia College & State University.
Florida
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Florida State University College of Law
J.D., 2008
Georgia College and State University
B.B.A., cum laude, 2004
Elizabeth Woods is a seasoned workers’ compensation defense attorney representing insurers, professional employer organizations, and regional employers in high-volume claims throughout Florida. With a career spanning both defense and claimant-side representation, Elizabeth brings a balanced perspective to every matter.
Elizabeth has handled hundreds of workers’ compensation files at a time, developing early risk assessments, crafting litigation strategy, conducting discovery, and guiding claims toward resolution. While her practice centers on workers’ compensation defense, she brings experience in multiple areas of the law and has litigated and briefed appellate matters across diverse industries and regulatory frameworks.
Notably, her persistence in defending employer interests resulted in a groundbreaking appellate decision in Sedgwick CMS v. Valcourt-Williams, 271 So. 3d 1133 (Fla. 1st DCA 2019), often referred to as “the dog case.” In that matter, the First District Court of Appeal, sitting en banc, agreed with Elizabeth’s position and overturned the lower court’s decision, ultimately denying compensability for an accident arising from risks personal to the employee. The ruling gained statewide attention and continues to be studied by Florida workers’ compensation practitioners.
Prior to joining Chartwell, Elizabeth led her own practice, where she refined case-management processes to support high-volume litigation. In that role, she successfully reorganized practice groups to streamline workflows and enhance client service.
In addition to her litigation practice, Elizabeth served as Grievance Committee Chair of The Florida Bar, where she investigated attorney-ethics complaints and made disciplinary recommendations, a direct reflection of her commitment to ethical practice and the legal community. She is also active in pro bono service and is dedicated to giving back through volunteer legal work.
Elizabeth is licensed to practice in Florida and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. She earned her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, cum laude, from Georgia College & State University.
