Ogletree Deakins Elects Kim Ebert as Firm’s New Managing Shareholder

ATLANTA, GA – February 12, 2010 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), the nation’s third-largest labor and employment law firm, is pleased to announce that Kim Ebert has been elected as the firm’s new managing shareholder. Mr. Ebert was elected to his new role during the firm’s Annual Shareholder’s Meeting and is the first non-founding shareholder to hold the position.  He replaces Gray Geddie, who had been the firm’s managing shareholder since January 2001.  In his role, Mr. Ebert will serve as chair of the executive management team and will be responsible for the strategic growth of the firm and its 37 offices. 

“We are excited about the next chapter in our firm’s history,” said Mr. Geddie.  “Kim Ebert has a strong reputation for leadership and has extensive experience in labor and employment law.  Under his leadership, we look to continue to grow the firm, provide outstanding client service and enhance our reputation as a pre-eminent labor and employment law firm.” 

Under Mr. Geddie’s leadership, the firm has experienced unprecedented growth.  During his tenure the number of Ogletree Deakins offices has nearly tripled, the annual revenues have nearly quadrupled, and the number of attorneys has increased by more than 300.

“I look forward to the challenge ahead and sincerely appreciate the hard work and tremendous efforts of Gray Geddie,” said Mr. Ebert.  “My strategic vision for the firm is to continue our focus on premier client service, to anticipate the needs of our clients and to provide a platform where talented labor and employment lawyers can succeed and have their professional needs met.” 

In his decade with the firm, Mr. Ebert has held a number of key leadership and managerial roles.  Joining Ogletree Deakins in 2000 as a founding partner and managing shareholder of the firm’s Indianapolis office, he doubled the size of the office during his five-year tenure.  In 2001, the firm’s shareholders elected him to a seat on the firm’s compensation committee, thereby increasing his managerial role.  He was elected to the firm’s Board of Directors in 2006, and will now chair the Board.

In his career, Mr. Ebert has defended employers in virtually all areas of labor and employment law for more than 30 years.  Mr. Ebert regularly represents employers in investigations and administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and other federal and state agencies.

As a litigator, Mr. Ebert has served as lead counsel in defending employers both at the trial and appellate levels in class, collective, and other multi-plaintiff actions (as well as individual lawsuits).  He also has significant experience handling litigation resulting from corporate reorganizations and acquisitions.

Mr. Ebert regularly counsels with and defends employers regarding wage and hour matters, affirmative action compliance, labor injunctions, and non-competition/trade secrets.  He also assists employers in drafting employment contracts, severance agreements, handbooks and personnel policies, and provides in-house training on legal compliance and liability avoidance.  Mr. Ebert has extensive experience in developing union avoidance strategies and in coordinating the response of management to union organizing drives.  He is seasoned as a chief spokesperson in collective bargaining and has defended employers in over 150 arbitrations.

Mr. Ebert has been named in The Best Lawyers in America since 1995 and is also a Fellow in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.  He consistently receives a top tier rating in Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers.  In 2007, Mr. Ebert was selected for the Distinguished Barrister award by The Indiana Lawyer.  A past member of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Continuing Education of the Bar, Mr. Ebert is a frequent writer, speaker and seminar chair at regional and national conferences on labor and employment topics for attorneys and human resources professionals.  In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Ebert devotes his time to helping charities such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training and the Humane Society of Hamilton County.  He also initiated the firm’s recent successful fund raising for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.  

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 450 lawyers located in 37 offices across the United States.  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 United States.  For more information, please contact Ryan King, public relations manager, at (404) 870-1742.