Ogletree Deakins Grows Chicago Office; Adds Three New Attorneys

CHICAGO, IL – March 24, 2008 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), the nation’s third-largest labor and employment law firm, has significantly expanded its Chicago office by adding three attorneys, each of whom brings a distinct legal expertise to the firm. Thomas E. Deer, a labor and employment law attorney, is joining as a shareholder; Steven R. Schinderle, a benefits attorney, is joining as an associate; and Logan A. Hollobaugh, a construction law attorney, will be of counsel.

Thomas E. Deer previously was a partner at Locke Reynolds in Indianapolis, where he served as Chair of that firm’s labor and employment practice group. Prior to that, he was a partner at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal in Chicago. Mr. Deer represents employers in a variety of employment-related matters, including counseling and litigation involving age, race, sex, and disability-discrimination claims, covenants not to compete, trade secrets, and other workplace torts. His labor experience includes bargaining contracts and defending arbitrations and unfair labor-practice charges.  He received his law degree from Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington in 1994 and his B.A. from Yale University in 1991.

Steven R. Schinderle brings his expertise on employee benefits law to Ogletree Deakins’ national benefits practice group, which now numbers more than 20 attorneys. Mr. Schinderle represents management in employment benefits and ERISA litigation matters. He began his career in employee benefits as a student investigator with the Chicago regional office of the U.S. Department of Labor. Mr. Schinderle earned his law degree from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 2007. He earned his M.B.A. from Western Michigan University in 1998 and his B.S. from Michigan State University in 1995.

Logan A. Hollobaugh joins the Chicago office’s construction industry practice group, which represents contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals.  Prior to graduating from The John Marshall Law School in 2008, Mr. Hollobaugh worked as a legal intern for Pepper Construction Company in Chicago, assisting the General Counsel with contracts, litigation, and research. He earned his B.A. from Iowa State University in 2004. 

“We are delighted these three fine attorneys have joined our firm,” said Robert P. Casey, co-managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Chicago office. “Thomas Deer brings a superior legal ability that will augment our reputation as one of the nation’s top labor and employment law firms. Steven Schinderle’s expertise on benefits law is an excellent fit for Ogletree Deakins and will serve as a key supplement to our already well-regarded employee benefits practice. And Logan Hollobaugh will help us enhance our Chicago office’s growing construction law practice. Our firm and clients will significantly benefit from the skill and counsel of these three attorneys.”

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 more than 400 lawyers located in 33 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.