Ogletree Deakins Opens Offices in Memphis, TN and Jackson, MS

30 year old firm now has 30 locations across the United States

ATLANTA – June 18, 2007 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), the nation’s third largest labor and employment law firm, is pleased to announce the firm will be joined by Memphis-based labor and employment law firm Lewis Fisher Henderson & Claxton, LLP on July 1. This expansion will increase Ogletree Deakins’ presence in the southeast, establishing new offices for the firm in Memphis, Tennessee and Jackson, Mississippi. Ogletree Deakins, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary, will now have 30 office locations across the United States.

In Memphis, Lewis Fisher attorneys Frederick J. Lewis, Thomas L. Henderson, Charles V. Holmes, O. John Norris, III, Craig A. Cowart, and Whitney King Fogerty will open the new office as shareholders of Ogletree Deakins. Donna K. Fisher, a founding partner of Lewis Fisher, will join the firm in an of counsel position. Thomas L. Henderson will manage the ten-person attorney team which also includes of counsel attorney Conie L. Abernathy and associates Jeremy A. Ireland and Kristy L. Gunn.

Herbert C. Ehrhardt will oversee Ogletree Deakins’ new Jackson, Mississippi office which includes Lewis Fisher attorneys Jerrald L. Shivers, Bethany Brantley Johnson, Vangela M. Wade, Emile C. Ott, M. Curtiss McKee, and Ashley Eley Cannady. Ehrhardt, Shivers, and Johnson will hold shareholder positions with Ogletree Deakins. Wade, Ott, and McKee will join as of counsel, and Cannady will hold an associate position with the firm. 

Two California-based attorneys from Lewis Fisher, Linda Claxton and Leslie E. Wallis, will join the Los Angeles office of Ogletree Deakins as part of the combination. Claxton will join as a shareholder, and Wallis will hold an of counsel position.

Collectively, the Lewis Fisher group brings a significant amount of labor and employment law expertise to Ogletree Deakins. Their experience includes defending employers facing discrimination litigation, wage and hour collective actions, workers’ compensation retaliation claims, family and medical leave issues, and matters involving sexual and racial harassment. 

“When we began discussions with Lewis Fisher, we knew combining our firms would be a win-win situation for everyone. They have a talented group of lawyers who understand our firm’s culture and believe in offering high quality service to clients – which is something that is extremely important to us,” said Gray Geddie, Ogletree Deakins’ managing shareholder.

Frederick J. Lewis, a founding partner of Lewis Fisher, adds: “Joining forces with Ogletree Deakins will greatly benefit us and our clients because now we’ll have a national network of labor and employment law attorneys at our fingertips. With more resources at our disposal, we can provide even better service to our clients.”

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 365 lawyers located in 30 offices from Miami to Los Angeles. 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.