David D. Powell, Jr. Joins Ogletree Deakins as a Shareholder

Denver office continues growth since opening in February

DENVER, CO – January 4, 2011- Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms, welcomes David D. Powell, Jr. to the firm’s Denver office as a shareholder.  Before joining Ogletree Deakins, Powell was a shareholder in the Denver office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, for more than eight years and served as chair of the firm’s employment practice group.  Since opening in February 2010, Ogletree Deakins’ Denver office has grown to 11 attorneys.

Powell started his career as a prosecutor in the Denver District Attorney’s Office where he gained valuable trial experience.  Since entering private practice in 1990, he has served as lead counsel on numerous litigation matters involving federal employment and civil rights statutes, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.  Powell also regularly advises clients on issues arising from the employer-employee relationship, such as executive terminations, restrictive covenants, proprietary and trade secret information, wrongful discharge claims, disability and family leave issues, harassment, discrimination, and other matters governed by applicable state and federal laws.

“Dave is one of the leading employment litigators in Colorado.  His leadership, experience, and deep legal knowledge make him a significant addition to our office,” said Steve Moore, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Denver office.  “Dave will assume a lead role on significant regulatory and litigation matters for our clients within and outside Colorado, including   class actions.  His decision to join Ogletree Deakins reaffirms that we are offering a breadth of legal experience to clients not only in the Rocky Mountain West, but also throughout our national platform of 40 offices.”

Powell has earned many accolades throughout his career including being named to Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers for five consecutive years and Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment for six consecutive years.  He also is a Fellow in the International Society of Barristers.  Powell is very active civically and professionally serving on the board of directors of the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado and the board of trustees for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.  He holds leadership roles within the Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association and the National Employment Law Council.  He also is an active member of the National Bar Association, the Sam Cary Bar Association, and the local Faculty of Federal Advocates.

Powell earned his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Santa Clara.  While in law school, he served as one of the managing editors of the UCLA Law Review.  After law school, Powell clerked for The Honorable John L. Kane, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.  Following his clerkship, he worked as a prosecutor before entering private practice with the Denver-based law firm of Holland & Hart.

About Ogletree Deakins

Ogletree Deakins is the nation’s third-largest labor and employment law firm, representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters.  The firm has more than 500 lawyers located in 40 offices across the United States.  In addition to handling labor and employment law matters, the firm has thriving practices focused on business immigration, construction, employee benefits, environmental, 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, public relations manager, at (404) 870-1742.