Ogletree Deakins Expands Jackson Office; Hires Three Kullman Lawyers

JACKSON, MS – March 10, 2008 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), the nation’s third largest labor and employment law firm, announced today it has added three attorneys to its Jackson office, greatly expanding the firm’s presence in Mississippi. Timothy W. Lindsay, Stephen A. Brandon, and Jennifer Guckert Chrestman will be joining the Jackson office this month, and together bring over 45 years of labor and employment law expertise to Ogletree Deakins. Previously, all three practiced with The Kullman Firm.

Timothy W. Lindsay joins Ogletree Deakins as a shareholder and has more than 20 years of litigation experience defending public and private employers against wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, leaves of absence, and employee benefits claims. He has represented management in a number of capacities including consultation regarding personnel issues, handbook drafting and review, EEO audits, wage and hour investigations, administrative hearings, collective bargaining agreements and general employment litigation. In addition, Mr. Lindsay frequently speaks on labor and employment law issues.

Stephen A. Brandon joins Ogletree Deakins as a shareholder and exclusively represents management on labor and employment law issues and related litigation. His experience includes defending employers against claims of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, as well as workplace safety matters such as OSHA on-site inspections and citations. In addition, Mr. Brandon provides counseling and customized, in-house training to clients with regard to all aspects of EEO compliance, and has coordinated investigations into allegations of high-level misconduct and whistleblowing activities.

Jennifer Guckert Chrestman concentrates her practice in several labor and employment law areas including employment litigation and workers’ compensation. She is an active member of the American Bar Association, Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division, and the Jackson Young Lawyers Association. Ms. Chrestman received her law degree from the University of Mississippi. She joins Ogletree Deakins as an associate.

“It’s exciting to see our practice grow in such a short amount of time,” said Bethany Brantley Johnson, managing shareholder of the firm’s Jackson office. “There is a real need here in Jackson for the type of services Ogletree Deakins provides. Having Timothy, Stephen, and Jennifer on board expands our capabilities in this market and enables us to better serve our clients and assist other employers in the area with their legal needs.”

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 400 lawyers located in 33 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.