Ogletree Deakins

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C. is a premier labor and employment law firm. The firm boasts 53 offices across the globe, including in Canada, Europe, Mexico, and the U.S.

Founded for Workers

Ogletree Deakins was founded in 1977 with just 16 attorneys who came together to focus on labor and employment law, representing management in Greenville, South Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. While the firm maintains offices in these two original outposts, Ogletree Deakins has grown to become a force comprising more than 900 attorneys across six countries.

Clients First

Ogletree Deakins has experienced professionals in all areas of labor and employment law, from traditional labor issues to employment litigation to workplace safety to employee benefits and other areas. Easily considered a go-to firm in this area, Ogletree Deakins has now held the No. 3 spot in Vault’s Best Law Firms for Labor & Employment for four consecutive years. The firm’s labor and employment law practices are complemented by thriving practices in immigration, construction, environmental law, and commercial litigation. 

Ogletree Deakins represents employers from all sizes and across many industries, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies. The firm prides itself in its client-focused approach, which includes alternative fee arrangements tailored to individual clients. In addition, the firm requests assessments from clients so that the firm can grow and improve in its performance and client service.

DEI

Ogletree Deakins is clearly committed to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. The firm’s DEI team includes a firmwide Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee, plus ambassadors in each office focusing on local initiatives. The firm also offers business resource groups (BRGs) to support minority attorneys, including ODA3 for Asian-American attorneys; ODAdelante for attorneys of Latin or Spanish origin; ODAlliance for attorneys identifying as LGBTQ+; ODBAR for Black and African-American attorneys; ODFamily for parents transitioning back to work; and ODWIN for women. Other initiatives include the David E. Jones Diversity Champion Award, partnerships with a number of local and national organizations, and publications and podcasts—not to mention the firm’s own Diversity & Inclusion practice group, which navigates D&I issues on behalf of the firm’s clients.

COVID-19 Update

“The pace of growth at Ogletree Deakins has not slowed during the pandemic. We continue to recruit and hire legal talent at all levels. We strive to provide candidates the same high-quality in-person interaction they would otherwise experience, but through use of remote video technology such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other platforms. With an increased emphasis on flexibility, our interview process connects candidates with the firm through mobile devices, computers or tablets wherever they may be. We are moving forward with a 2021 summer associate program, and are continuously improving our programming to align with the goals of providing meaning work experience and ensuring the health and safety of the summer associates and attorneys who participate.”  – Margaret (Meg) Holman, Chief Talent Officer