Practice areas: Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation, Business & Corporate; view more
Licensed in Massachusetts since: 1999
Education: Boston College Law School
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2013 - 2014 Gina D. Wodarski is the founding partner of her firm, GDW Law, in Andover, Massachusetts, where she applies more than 25 years of legal and business acumen to serve clients ranging from emerging start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. She has built a reputation as trusted national counsel, guiding organizations through a broad spectrum of corporate, business and employment-related challenges.
In her role as general counsel, Ms. Wodarski has advised boards of directors and executive teams on policy development and administration and regulatory compliance. She routinely drafts business policies, employee handbooks, executive agreements, commercial/business contracts and various plans, ensuring that each document aligns with a client’s operational goals.
Known for her strategic thinking, leadership skills and clear communication, Ms. Wodarski assesses complex legal matters swiftly and delivers solutions designed to advance her clients’ objectives. She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in several other jurisdictions throughout the U.S. When internal investigations or audits arise, she leads the inquiry with discretion and rigor, and she designs and presents training sessions to help companies strengthen their practices and reduce future risk.
Ms. Wodarski has represented clients in state and federal courts, before administrative agencies and in arbitration proceedings nationwide. Whether defending or prosecuting wrongful termination claims, litigating contract disputes or navigating complex multijurisdictional employment matters, she approaches every case with thorough preparation and tenacious advocacy. Her courtroom successes have reinforced her clients’ confidence in her ability to secure favorable outcomes under pressure.
A graduate of Boston College Law School, Ms. Wodarski earned her Juris Doctor after completing her Bachelor of Science magna cum laude in political science at Boston College. Early in her career, she clerked for the Honorable Judge Joseph A. Rodriguez in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and later served as of counsel at prominent law firms, honing her skills in high-stakes litigation and corporate counseling. She is frequently invited to share her insights at industry conferences and has authored numerous articles on legal and business topics.
Practice areas
Employment & Labor: Employer, Employment Litigation: Defense, Business/Corporate, Business Litigation- 40% Employment & Labor: Employer
- 30% Employment Litigation: Defense
- 20% Business/Corporate
- 10% Business Litigation
First Admitted: 1999, Massachusetts
Professional Webpage: https://www.gdw-law.com/about/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Notable Experience- Gina has represented businesses for 25 years. She has repeatedly prevailed in numerous state and federal courts in various jurisdictions, including before United States District Courts, Circuit Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court, on a wide-range of matters. Notably, she obtained numerous voluntary dismissals of suits against employer-clients, including a voluntary dismissal on behalf of a Fortune 20 client during preliminary trial proceedings, due to successful litigation strategy and outcomes. She has prevailed at summary judgment on behalf of her business-clients in numerous employment and business cases, including cases involving claims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, alleged violations of the FMLA and FLSA, breach of contract and other various employment and business claims. She has also prevailed at summary judgment in countless ERISA cases, including cases involving claims for pension, prescription-drug, life, disability, severance and other benefits. Gina effectively negotiates on behalf of her clients, including countless contract, business and employment-related negotiations, including those that led to the settlement or resolution on non-monetary and other terms favorable to the client. She won before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of a Fortune 20 client in an ERISA class action, where the plaintiffs sought millions of dollars in benefits and other relief for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with the alleged administration of a prescription drug plan.
Representative Clients
- I represent startups to large corporations.
Pro bono / Community Service
- I serve as Board Member for the Boston College Law School Alumni Board. I support local charities, including my children's schools, the pancreatic cancer foundation, the Alzheimer's association, the PMC and the American Cancer Society.
Honors
- Notable recognition as a leading female attorney., Who's Who In America, Who's Who In America, 2024
- Massachusetts Super Lawyer
Educational Background
- Attended Boston College, BS, 1996, magna cum laude, 1992-1996
White Papers
- May provide upon request.
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Gina has conducted countless employment trainings, including anti-harassment, discrimination and retaliation; DEI training, performance management training and other employer- and business-related trainings and guidance for her clients. Additionally, Gina has conducted more formal lectures/writing, including the following: ERISA Compliance 101 Webinar, February 9, 2012, presenter, sponsored by EBS Capstone. Family Medical Leave Act in Massachusetts, presenter, Lorman Education Services October 30, 2007, New Bedford, Massachusetts. FMLA Update 2007, presenter, The Council on Education in Management, September 6-7, 2007, Providence, Rhode Island. "Reductions in Force," presenter, Lorman Education Services. "State and Federal Personnel Recordkeeping and Retention Requirements," presenter, Lorman Education Services. "Disability Accommodations," presenter, Lorman Education Services. "Discipline and Investigations," presenter, MetroWest Human Resources Management Association, Employment, ERISA
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Rising Star
- Appellate
- Civil Litigation Defense
- Civil Rights/First Amendment
- Class Action/Mass Tort
- Corporate Governance & Compliance
- Employee Benefits/ERISA
- Employment & Labor
- Employment Litigation: Defense
- General Litigation
- Healthcare
- Insurance Coverage
- Workers' Compensation
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2025
- Rising Stars: 2013 - 2014
