Ogletree Deakins Selects Trina Le Riche to Lead Kansas City Office

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – April 26, 2013 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that Trina Le Riche has been appointed as managing shareholder of the firm’s Kansas City office. As the managing shareholder, Le Riche will continue to build the firm’s presence in Kansas City and across the central Midwest.

“Since joining Ogletree Deakins in 2009, Trina has exhibited exemplary leadership qualities in the Kansas City office,” said Kim Ebert, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins. “She is well-respected among her peers in the Kansas City legal community and has a stellar track record of achieving positive results for her clients. We are confident our Kansas City office will continue to flourish under Trina’s leadership.”

“Ogletree Deakins has a strong presence and deep bench strength across the Midwest, including 18 attorneys in the Kansas City office alone,” said Le Riche. “The firm is known for its commitment to client service and the value we deliver to employers in Kansas City and nationally. In my new role, I look forward to continuing to drive the firm’s reputation in the market, as well as its commitment to client service.”

Le Riche is an accomplished employment attorney with more than 15 years of experience in Kansas City. She has represented employers in a range of industries in almost all states, and she regularly defends employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) claims before federal and state courts and various administrative agencies. In addition to her litigation practice, Le Riche has broad experience structuring large- and small-scale reductions in force, counseling clients on litigation avoidance, FMLA, and ADA matters, negotiating and drafting severance agreements, and conducting on-site workplace investigations. She is an active member of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Leadership Circle and is a sought-after national speaker on a variety of timely employment topics. Le Riche earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri, Columbia School of Law and earlier received her B.S, magna cum laude, with honors, from the University of Missouri. 

“Trina’s selection as managing shareholder of the Kansas City office underscores Ogletree Deakins’ commitment to diversity and inclusion for all of our attorneys,” said Michelle Wimes, director of Ogletree Deakins’ Professional Development & Inclusion group, which is based in Kansas City. Ten of Ogletree Deakins’ 44 offices across the United States and in Europe are led by female or diverse attorneys. In addition to Kansas City, these offices include Detroit Metro, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Richmond, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.

About Ogletree Deakins
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. The firm has more than 650 lawyers located in 44 offices across the United States and in Europe. Ogletree Deakins was named “Law Firm of the Year” in both the Litigation – Labor & Employment and the Employment Law – Management categories in the 2013 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list. 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 or Mary Lou Baxter.