Annie Villanueva Jeffers

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom • Palo Alto


Annie Villanueva Jeffers' tenure in employment began at Skadden as a junior associate in 2012. She said her passion for the field was ignited during an internship at the New York State Division of Human Rights in New York City following her first year at Harvard Law School. 


"I had the opportunity to review various types of discrimination and retaliation charges filed with the Division to determine whether 'probable cause' existed and to help the parties mediate and settle their employment-related disputes," Villanueva Jeffers said. "That internship sparked my interest in labor and employment law."


While she has been involved in several significant matters, confidentiality precludes disclosure of details, including a notable case where she represented a top c-suite executive during a challenging separation from a major automotive company, and subsequently in their new c-suite role at one of the largest vehicle makers in the U.S. 


In the past few years, one of Villanueva Jeffers' most significant disclosable matters was representing Trimble in the sale and contribution of its agriculture business to a joint venture with AGCO Corporation. This complex transaction involved AGCO's acquisition of an 85% stake in the joint venture, valued at $2 billion. Villanueva Jeffers' expertise was pivotal as the lead employment attorney, guiding the client from the inception of the deal through to the closing and beyond, addressing post-closing integration matters.


"Unlike my usual role in other transactions, I was tasked with proposing a number of potential solutions for employing and engaging workers throughout the world in jurisdictions where the joint venture would not have a legal entity available to employ these workers," Villanueva Jeffers said. "I had to review, understand and synthesize advice from a dozen local counsels in various jurisdictions around the world and develop multi-jurisdictional solutions that were practical and legally compliant with a myriad of local laws, while also coordinating with my colleagues regarding any tax-related implications. That was incredibly challenging and time-intensive, but we navigated through it all."


Sharing insight on recent trends, she said there is an increased focus on non-competes and restrictive covenants, especially in light of the Federal Trade Commission's rule that attempts to ban almost all non-competes. 


"Though the rule may not ultimately go into effect, I suspect there will be continued focus and scrutiny on non-competes, non-solicits and other restrictive covenants at both the state and federal levels," Villanueva Jeffers said.