Ogletree Deakins Elects New Leadership in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – September 15, 2020 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that Michael “Mike” Ray has been elected to serve as office managing shareholder of the firm’s Charlotte office. As a part of his role, Ray will serve on the firm’s Management Committee and drive the firm’s presence in North Carolina, in partnership with the firm’s Raleigh office.

“The team we have in Charlotte is committed to continuing to provide excellent client service at an exceptional value, and thinking outside the box to come up with creative and innovative solutions to our clients’ problems and issues, which is particularly important given all the uncertainty in the world over the last six months,”  said Ray. “Our Charlotte team has a wealth of experience with the usual scope of employment matters, but also are strong subject matter experts in areas like class/collective actions, traditional labor, and mass arbitrations. I’m absolutely thrilled to lead this great group in Charlotte, and to continue to build upon the Firm’s strong network in the Carolinas, and across the Southeast.”

Ray has more than 15 years of experience representing and advising employers in North Carolina and across the country.  He has extensive experience in high-stakes litigation, including litigating scores of class and collective actions under federal and state law, various other “bet the company” type of litigation, and he has successfully tried multiple cases to a complete defense verdict in forums across the country.  In addition to his active litigation practice, Ray strives to give clients practical advice to prevent litigation from ever occurring in the first place, and he frequently partners with clients on proactive compliance practices, such as workplace audits.

Ray was recently recognized on the Best Lawyers in America^© 2021 list. In addition to his practice, Ray is a regular speaker and author on the labor and employment issues facing employers. On a personal note, Mike and his wife Amina are the proud parents of three young children (Alia, Logan, and Donovan), and in his free time, he can frequently be found coaching youth sports or otherwise chasing his kids around local parks, ball fields, and greenways.

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 nine consecutive years. In 2020, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Labor Law – Management and Litigation – ERISA categories. Ogletree Deakins has more than 900 attorneys located in 53 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. www.ogletree.com