Ogletree Deakins Welcomes Seasoned Litigator Kimberly Hodges to Memphis Office

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – October 3, 2016 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is strengthening its Memphis office with the addition of seasoned litigator, Kimberly Hodges, who joins as a shareholder. Hodges joins Ogletree Deakins from Federal Express Corporation, where she held the position of Lead Counsel – Litigation and Employment.

“Kimberly is highly respected and recognized in the Memphis legal community,” said Thomas Henderson, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Memphis office. “As an in-house attorney at Federal Express, Kimberly demonstrated an ability to do more than just successfully defend the company in litigation; she also looked deeper to assess legal risks, identify root causes of employment issues, and recommend adjustments in policies and practices to prevent future litigation. Her high rate of success with handling complex legal matters throughout the course of her career demonstrates that she will have no problem delivering the tenets of our Client Pledge, and we welcome her to the firm with open arms.”

Hodges has sixteen years of experience as an attorney focused on employment law counseling and litigation. Before becoming an attorney, she began her career in the human resources departments of Trailmobile, Inc., Riceland Foods, and TruGreen-ChemLawn and later worked as a law clerk for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She is an experienced litigator at both the trial and appellate levels, but also brings practical experience in handling employment issues. During her more than nine-year tenure at Federal Express Corporation, Hodges represented the company in all aspects of trial and appellate litigation, provided advice on litigation strategies and prevention, led and mentored attorneys and staff, and built strong relationships with internal business partners. A frequent speaker, Hodges has spoken internally at Federal Express Corporation and externally at events hosted by organizations including the Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. Hodges earned her J.D. from the University Of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School Of Law and earlier received her B.S. from Arkansas State 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. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core values. U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for five consecutive years. In 2016, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Employment Law – Management category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 750 attorneys located in 49 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies.