Who We Are

Christian L. Woods, Esq.

Founding Partner

Civil Defense Litigation | Products Liability | Subrogation & SIU | Garage Keepers Liability

Christian’s representative experience includes:

  • Defense of high-exposure personal injury claims and general-liability claims

  • Products liability actions involving alleged design, manufacturing, and failure-to-warn defects

  • Complex premises liability disputes involving commercial and residential properties

  • Defense of construction‑defect claims involving water intrusion, structural issues, and building‑system failures

  • Professional liability and E&O defense for service providers and industry professionals

  • Contract and business-tort litigation involving small and mid-sized companies

  • Consumer warranty and lemon law defense involving express and implied warranties, product performance, repair histories, buyback demands, and alleged willful conduct under the Song‑Beverly Act

  • Subrogation defense involving property damage, product failures, construction‑related losses, transportation incidents, and multi‑party recovery claims

  • SIU support including fraud investigations, recorded statements, expert coordination, and coverage evaluation

Christian is admitted to practice in all California state courts as well as multiple federal district courts across the state.

Christian’s Approach:

Discipline, preparation, and clear communication form the foundation of Christian’s practice. He is committed to providing clients with the confidence, strategy, and advocacy required to navigate high-stakes litigation effectively.

Christian L. Woods is the Founding Partner of Woods Oliveira Law and a seasoned civil defense litigator representing businesses, insurers, and public entities throughout California. His practice involves general liability, premises liability, commercial disputes, professional negligence, and high-exposure injury claims.

He has extensive experience in construction defect litigation, including structural issues, water intrusion, soil movement, and multi-trade disputes, and in products liability defense, involving design defects, manufacturing defects, and failure-to-warn claims across industrial equipment, consumer goods, and tools.

Christian’s work also spans consumer warranty defense and lemon law defense, handling disputes involving express and implied warranties, product performance, repair-related issues, and claims under the Song-Beverly Act – including buybacks, restitution demands, and alleged willful conduct.

He also advises insurers and businesses in subrogation and SIU matters, including property damage, product failures, construction and transportation incidents, fraud investigations, recorded statements, coverage evaluations, and related litigation.

Christian’s litigation philosophy centers on early evaluation, proactive strategy, and efficient resolution. He is valued by clients for his candor, responsiveness, and commitment to delivering practical, results driven counsel.

Ilon F. Oliveira, Esq.

Managing Partner

Complex Civil Defense Litigation | Business & Transactional Counsel | Professional Liability

Ilon’s representative experience includes:

  • Defense of insureds in general liability, premises liability, commercial liability, and high-exposure bodily injury matters

  • Professional liability and E&O defense involving consultants, real estate professionals, brokers, design professionals, contractors, and other service providers

  • Defense of multi-party construction, habitability, and property related disputes involving expert analysis, contractual risk transfer, and allocation of fault

  • Defense of landlord-tenant and habitability claims involving alleged maintenance failures, notice and repair issues, tenant injury claims, code related allegations, and property owner or manager exposure

  • Defense of premises liability claims involving alleged dangerous conditions, negligent maintenance, inadequate warnings, third party conduct, and catastrophic injury exposure

  • Defense of product liability claims involving causation, defect allegations, expert issues, damages assessment, and coordinated litigation strategy

  • Defense of medical malpractice and professional negligence claims requiring expert review, standard of care analysis, causation evaluation, and early exposure assessment

  • Drafting and negotiation of operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and partnership structures

  • Defense of general liability, premises liability, and commercial litigation matters

Ilon is known for her practical, collaborative approach and her commitment to delivering clear, efficient, business-minded legal guidance. Clients value her responsiveness, strategic mindset, litigation judgment, and dedication to achieving both legal and operational objectives.

Ilon’s Approach:

Ilon combines litigation experience with business insight to provide comprehensive counsel tailored to each client’s broader goals. Her philosophy centers on clarity, efficiency, and long-term partnership.

Ilon F. Oliveira is the Managing Partner of Woods Oliveira Law, where she represents insurers, insureds, businesses, and professionals in civil defense matters throughout California. Her practice is designed to support insurance carriers and their insureds with practical claim evaluation, strategic litigation management, and efficient resolution of complex disputes.

In her litigation practice, Ilon defends complex and high-exposure matters involving general liability, premises liability, landlord-tenant and habitability claims, product liability, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, professional negligence, medical malpractice, and construction defect. She works closely with carriers, adjusters, and insureds to evaluate liability, damages, causation, tender issues, settlement value, and litigation risk.

Her defense work also includes matters involving alleged dangerous conditions, habitability issues, maintenance obligations, notice and repair disputes, tenant injury claims, product-related injury allegations, expert-driven medical issues, and related property owner, manager, professional, and insurer exposure. Ilon is recognized for her thorough case assessments, strategic thinking, and ability to craft tailored, cost-effective solutions aligned with each client’s objectives.

In addition to litigation, Ilon maintains a robust transactional practice focused on supporting startups and small businesses through all stages of growth. She advises on entity formation, governance, contracts, risk management, and day-to-day legal needs that help businesses build strong foundations and avoid future disputes.