Ogletree Deakins Names Sixteen New Shareholders

ATLANTA, GA – February 2, 2009 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms, is pleased to announce the following sixteen attorneys were voted shareholders at the firm’s Annual Shareholders Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia on January 31: Ruth Anne Collins Michels of the firm’s Atlanta office; Karen N. Brandon and Eric P. Mathisen of the firm’s Chicago office; Martin C. Brook and Larry R. Jensen of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office; William L. Duda of the firm’s Columbia office; Jeffrey P. Dunlaevy of the firm’s Greenville office; John B. Flood of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office; Jonathan O. Harris of the firm’s Nashville office; Kevin S. Joyner and Phillip J. Strach of the firm’s Raleigh office; T. Scott Kelly of the firm’s Birmingham office; Bonnie L. Martin of the firm’s Indianapolis office; Micol L. Morgan of the firm’s St. Thomas office; Andrew T. Turner of the firm’s Dallas office; and Burton D. Garland, Jr. of the firm’s St. Louis office.

Ruth Anne Collins Michels, of the firm’s Atlanta office, practices exclusively in the area of employee benefits law. She earned her B.S.B.A. from Central Michigan University in 1990 and her law degree, cum laude, from Georgia State University College of Law in 2000.

Karen N. Brandon, of the firm’s Chicago office, has extensive experience advising clients on all aspects of employee benefits plans. She earned her B.S. in Justice and Law, magna cum laude, from Western Connecticut State University in 1987; her M.B.A. in Finance, summa cum laude, from the University of District of Columbia in 1992; and her law degree from American University in 1999.

Eric P. Mathisen, of the firm’s Chicago office, concentrates his practice on matters involving Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) litigation, bad faith litigation, labor and employment law, and HIPAA.  He earned his B.A. from Carthage College in 1992 and his law degree from Valparaiso University in 1996.

Martin C. Brook, of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, has more than ten years experience in labor and employment law. He earned his B.A. in 1987 from Michigan State University; his Masters Degree in Labor and Industrial Relations in 1988 from Michigan State University; and his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Michigan in 1996.

Larry R. Jensen, of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, represents employers in all aspects of employment litigation in federal, state, and appellate courts. He earned his B.A. from Western Michigan University in 1993 and his law degree, cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law in 1999.

William L. Duda, of the firm’s Columbia office, is certified as a specialist in employment and labor law by the South Carolina Supreme Court, and helps employers understand and comply with a broad range of employment laws. He earned his B.S. from the University of South Carolina in 1992; his A.S. (paralegal) from Greenville Technical College in 1995; and his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2000.

Jeffrey P. Dunlaevy, of the firm’s Greenville office, represents management clients in litigation before state and federal agencies and courts. He earned his B.A. from Bowdoin College in 1995, and his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1999.

John B. Flood, of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, is a seasoned litigator and has over 15 years of labor and employment law experience. He earned his B.S., magna cum laude, from Oklahoma Christian University in 1990; his law degree, cum laude, from Oklahoma City University in 1993; and his LL.M. (Labor and Employment Law), with distinction, from Georgetown University in 2002.

Jonathan O. Harris, of the firm’s Nashville office, concentrates his practice in employment litigation. He earned his B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1997 and his law degree from Washington University School of Law in 2000.

Kevin S. Joyner, of the firm’s Raleigh office, represents corporations in all aspects of labor and employment law. He earned his B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, from East Carolina University in 1993; his M.B.A. from East Carolina University in 1994; and his law degree from Campbell University School of Law in 1998.

Phillip J. Strach, of the firm’s Raleigh office, represents management and employers in a wide range of employment law issues and related litigation before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. He earned his B.A., summa cum laude, from Campbell University in 1996 and his law degree, with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2000.

T. Scott Kelly, of the firm’s Birmingham office, has experience representing employers in employment-related litigation on federal, state and local levels before court and administrative agencies regarding claims concerning discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, and wage and hour violations (including collective actions). He earned his B.A. from Birmingham-Southern College in 1996 and his law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2000.

Bonnie L. Martin, of the firm’s Indianapolis office, represents clients in the areas of employment law and both general and employment litigation. She earned her B.A., summa cum laude, from Anderson University in 1994 and her law degree, cum laude, from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1997.

Micol L. Morgan, of the firm’s St. Thomas office, practices in the area of employment law and litigation. She earned her B.A. from Emory University in 1991 and her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1994.

Andrew T. Turner, of the firm’s Dallas office, handles a wide range of litigation matters, and has considerable trial experience in state and federal courts throughout the region, including Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. He earned his B.A. from Baylor University in 1988, and his law degree, with honors, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1991.

Burton D. Garland, Jr., of the firm’s St. Louis office, practices all facets of labor and employment law. He earned his B.S.B.A. (Dean’s List) from the University of Arizona in 1992; his MBA (Dean’s List) from St. Louis University in 1995; and his law degree from St. Louis University School of Law, also in 1995.  

With the addition of these sixteen shareholders, Ogletree Deakins now has 244 shareholders firm-wide.

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 430 lawyers located in 34 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.