Ogletree Deakins Expands California Wage and Hour Practice with Addition of San Francisco Shareholder Michael Westheimer

SAN FRANCISCO – June 8, 2015 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Michael Westheimer as a shareholder in the firm’s San Francisco office. Westheimer joins Ogletree Deakins from Buchalter Nemer, where he was a shareholder in the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group and co-chair of the Wage & Hour Class Action team.

Westheimer has practiced law in San Francisco for nearly 20 years. In his labor and employment law practice, he represents management in class action and single plaintiff litigation in state and federal courts, arbitrations, mediations, administrative hearings, and government agency proceedings. He also performs internal audits, investigations, and employee and manager training, and provides advice and counseling on a wide range of workplace issues. Westheimer regularly handles matters related to a full range of labor and employment issues including proprietary business information and trade secrets, social media polices, wage/hour compliance, leaves of absence, employee benefits claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and whistleblower claims.

“We are pleased to welcome Michael to our San Francisco office,” said Tom McInerney, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ San Francisco office. “Class actions are a huge issue for employers throughout the state, and Michael’s substantial experience with class action wage and hour claims will be very beneficial to our clients.”

Active in the California legal community, Westheimer is a member of the Northern California Human Resources Association, the Western Independent Bankers, and the Labor & Employment Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco. Westheimer earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Francisco School of Law, and he received his B.A., cum laude, from Duke University.

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 700 lawyers located in 47 offices across the United States, in Europe, and in Mexico. Ogletree Deakins has been named a Law Firm of the Year four consecutive years by U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms.” In 2015, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Labor Law – Management category. 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, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies.