Columbia Attorney Ted Speth Graduates from the Prestigious Riley Institute’s Midlands Diversity Leaders Initiative Class II

COLUMBIA, SC – June 2, 2009 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), the nation’s third largest labor and employment law firm, announced today that Ted Speth, managing shareholder in the firm’s Columbia office, has graduated from The Riley Institute’s Midlands Diversity Leaders Initiative Class II at Furman University in Columbia. Offered by the Institute each year to a highly select group of community leaders at three locations throughout South Carolina, the acclaimed program enables participants to gain leadership skills that are vital for addressing diversity efforts in the workplace and greater community.

Participants in the Diversity Leaders Initiative are chosen by nomination and application. They come from all demographic groups and sectors—corporate, non-profit, faith-based, education, and public—to build diversity leadership skills. During the course of the class, participants examine complex diversity issues and network with other community leaders, developing diversity management tools that enhance their business, organization, and community. To date, more than 400 corporate CEOs, mayors, city and county council members, legislators, school superintendents, pastors and rabbis, non-profit heads, chamber of commerce directors, and other community leaders have graduated from the program.

As an attorney with Ogletree Deakins, Mr. Speth has focused his practice in employment-related litigation matters during his entire legal career.  He has successfully defended employers in state and federal litigation throughout the U.S.  He also provides training and preventive advice to employers in an effort to resolve potential employment-related legal matters before they escalate into legal actions.  Mr. Speth is listed in the annual The Best Lawyers in America. He was voted into membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates in July 2002.  Mr. Speth is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speth earned his A.B. from Duke University in 1973 and his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1979

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 450 lawyers located in 35 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 Dave Carew, public relations manager, at 615-332-0718.