Ogletree Deakins’ Aviation Industry Group Welcomes Former Delta Executive Chris Puckett

ATLANTA – November 18, 2025 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Chris Puckett to the firm’s Atlanta office as a shareholder. Puckett will co-chair the firm’s Aviation Industry Group alongside Memphis shareholder Chris Harrison, who formerly served as Vice-President of Labor Relations and Associate General Counsel at Pinnacle Airlines Corp.

Puckett joins Ogletree Deakins from Delta Air Lines, where he served as Director & Counsel, Labor and Employee Relations for 13 years. Throughout his two-decade legal career, Puckett has extensive experience across a broad range of traditional labor, employment, and regulatory matters. During his time in-house, Puckett oversaw Delta’s grievance, internal investigation, dispute resolution, and arbitration processes for unionized employee groups. He also negotiated and administered collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), handled Railway Labor Act (RLA) and National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) matters, provided day-to-day labor and employment law counsel for unionized and non-unionized groups, drafted workplace policies, and conducted training to ensure compliance with regulatory, statutory, and contractual requirements.

Puckett received his J.D., with honors, from Emory University School of Law and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Auburn University. Puckett formerly served as a Naval Flight Officer in the Maritime Patrol community, where he deployed overseas and qualified as a Mission Commander and Instructor in weapons and tactics in the P-3C Orion. 

“I’m thrilled to join Ogletree Deakins and help chair the Aviation Industry Group,” said Puckett. “Having spent years inside the aviation sector, I understand the unique challenges these companies face. Our goal is to provide clients with practical, business-focused solutions that align with the pace and complexity of the aviation industry.”

Under the leadership of Puckett and Harrison, Ogletree Deakins’ Aviation Industry Group offers deep insight into the complexities of the airline industry. The group’s attorneys have represented carriers, service providers, and aviation companies with operations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond. This global perspective equips the team to address industry-specific labor, employment, and regulatory matters with precision and agility.

“Our firm has long supported aviation clients,” said Harrison. “Our Aviation Industry Group is a team of accomplished attorneys who not only understand the legal landscape but also the operational realities of running an airline.”

Whether navigating union relations, working with agencies such as the National Mediation Board (NMB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), or health and safety regulators, the Aviation Industry Group provides timely, efficient, and informed representation. The Aviation Industry Group’s services include labor relations, regulatory compliance, business immigration, workplace safety, and employment litigation.

About Ogletree Deakins
With more than 1,100 attorneys in 60 offices worldwide, Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management. We handle all types of employment-related legal matters, including traditional labor and employment, workplace safety, employee benefits, and business immigration matters. Guided by our Client Pledge, we focus on understanding clients’ business and objectives, collaborating and anticipating needs, harnessing technology and innovation, communicating effectively, and providing quality representation with exceptional value. www.ogletree.com