Ogletree Deakins Expands Tampa Office, Adds Two Attorneys

TAMPA – October 7, 2007 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), the nation’s third largest labor and employment law firm, announced today it has added two attorneys to its Tampa office, further expanding the firm’s capabilities in Florida. Barnett Q. Brooks and Randall L. Sidlosca recently joined the Tampa team and together bring over 45 years of legal expertise to Ogletree Deakins.

Barnett Q. Brooks comes to Ogletree Deakins as a shareholder and previously headed up the firm of Barnett Q. Brooks & Associates LLC. Prior to that, he was with Akerman Senterfitt where he served as the firm’s labor and employment practice area leader. Mr. Brooks has over 28 years of practical employment law experience and has litigated, arbitrated, and mediated matters involving discipline and discharge, discrimination, sexual harassment, and employee substance abuse. He has practiced with law firms in Maryland and Florida and for many years, was an assistant general counsel with a Fortune 100 company.

Randall L. Sidlosca, formerly a founding shareholder of Sidlosca & Associates, P.A., joins Ogletree Deakins as of counsel and brings over two decades of legal experience to the firm. He concentrates his practice in the areas of immigration and nationality law and is part of Ogletree Deakins’ thriving International Practice Group which provides top quality client service to employers operating across national boundaries. Mr. Sidlosca represents corporate clients in a wide array of immigration matters including non-immigrant and immigrant employment based visa applications and is a frequent speaker at seminars and roundtables regarding immigration law.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Randall and Barnett on board. They are excellent attorneys who bring a wealth of legal experience to the firm and are committed to providing first-rate client service,” said Kristen Allman, managing shareholder of the firm’s Tampa office. “Having them in the firm expands our capabilities and allows us to better serve employers across the state of Florida.”

About Ogletree Deakins

Ogletree Deakins is the nation’s third largest labor and employment law firm, representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. The firm has 400 lawyers located in 32 offices from Miami to Los Angeles. In addition to handling labor and employment law matters, the firm has thriving practices focused on business immigration, employee benefits, and workplace safety and health law.  Ogletree Deakins represents a diverse range of clients, including more than half of the Fortune 50 corporations in the U.S.

For more information, please contact Karen Gonzales, communications manager, at 210-277-3606.