Ron Chapman, Jr. Elected to Ogletree Deakins’ Board of Directors

DALLAS – January 30, 2012 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms, is pleased to announce that Ron Chapman, Jr., in the firm’s Dallas office, has been elected to the firm’s Board of Directors. Chapman was elected to the position during the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Atlanta, Georgia on January 28. Chapman, a Texas native, first joined Ogletree Deakins as an associate. Through his dedication to proactive counsel and unparalleled client service, he has ascended to his role on the firm’s Board of Directors.

Chapman is Board Certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In his career, he has defended clients in more than 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Chapman represents employers in all areas of labor and employment law, including employment agreements and policies, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, non-competition and non-disclosure covenants, leaves of absence, unfair labor practices, union campaigns, collective bargaining, and workplace safety issues. He also provides counseling to human resources professionals and business owners, helping them navigate both legal and practical considerations with respect to workplace issues.

Driven by client service and providing excellent counsel, Chapman has been lauded for his approach as evidenced in being listed in The Best Lawyers in America. Similarly, Chambers USA lists Chapman as a “Leading Lawyer.” In 2010, Law360 named Chapman one of the nation’s 10 “Rising Stars” in employment law for his “out-of-this-world approach to client service.” He is also rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available, as a testament to the fact that his peers “rank him at the highest level of professional excellence.” Locally, Chapman has been named a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly; one of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” by D Magazine; and a “Top Corporate Defender” by the Dallas Business Journal.

Chapman is a frequent speaker at employment law seminars and a go-to source for local and national media outlets due to his ability to explain complex labor and employment law issues in a straightforward and concise manner. Chapman has presented or been quoted on topics such as social media policies to protect employers; avoiding retaliation claims; employing temporary workers; religion in the workplace; tips to avoid sexual harassment issues in the workplace; age bias; and employment cases to watch in 2012.

Prior to his appointment to the Ogletree Deakins Board of Directors, Chapman was the Chairman of Dallas’ Civil Service Board, pursuant to an appointment by the Mayor of Dallas and the City Council, where he advised on personnel disputes concerning city employees. He is also the past Chairman of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce. 

Knowing the value of hard work, Chapman attended Southern Methodist University School of Law on a full merit scholarship, graduating cum laude,and as a member of the Order of the Coif. Earlier, Chapman received a B.A., cum laude, from Rice University.   

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 600 lawyers located in 40 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 United States. For more information, please contact Ryan King, public relations manager, at (404) 870-1742.