Ogletree Deakins Adds Two Attorneys to Greenville Office

GREENVILLE – September 21, 2006 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), the nation’s third largest labor and employment law firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Peter B. Murphy and John T. Merrell to the firm’s Greenville office. Both attorneys will hold associate positions with the firm.

Mr. Murphy earned his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law.  He previously practiced for four years in Atlanta, Georgia, in the areas of labor and employment law and commercial litigation.  Mr. Murphy has represented management in employment discrimination matters before both federal and state courts and agencies and also has experience working on union election campaigns and contract negotiations.  He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and sat for the South Carolina bar examination in July.  Mr. Murphy received his undergraduate degree from Duke University.

Mr. Merrell earned his law degree, cum laude, from the University of South Carolina School of Law. During his time there, he received three CALI Awards for scoring the highest grade in Constitutional Law, Torts and Agency, Partnerships, and LLCs and served as a staff member for the South Carolina Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif.  Mr. Merrell sat for the bar earlier this summer.

About Ogletree Deakins

Ogletree Deakins first began its practice in Greenville, South Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. Since then, the firm has grown to over 300 attorneys and has more than 40 lawyers in Greenville who serve management exclusively.  With a total of 25 locations across the country, Ogletree Deakins is the third largest labor and employment law firm in the United States. 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, including more than half of the Fortune 50 corporations in the U.S.

For more information, please contact Karen Gonzales, communications manager, at 210-277-3606.