Ted Speth and Kathy Dudley Helms Inducted as Fellows into Litigation Counsel of America

Honorary society comprised of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers

COLUMBIA, S.C. – November 3, 2009 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), America’s third-largest labor and employment law firm, is pleased to announce that Charles T. Speth II (Ted) and Kathy Dudley Helms, have been inducted as a Fellows in the Litigation Counsel of America.  Speth and Helms both join the most diverse honorary professional society in American law with recognition of excellence among American litigation and trial counsel across all segments of the bar.  Fellows are selected and invited into Fellowship after being evaluated on effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial work, along with ethical reputation.

Speth has concentrated his practice in employment-related litigation matters during his entire legal career and has successfully defended employers in state and federal litigation throughout the United States.  Most recently, Speth has devoted the majority of his time to the representation of clients in class action litigation in which the putative class membership exceeded 100,000 persons.  In addition, he also provides training and preventive advice to employers in an effort to resolve potential employment-related legal matters before the matters escalate into legal actions. 

Speth’s practice also includes advising clients in the complex area of disability law, including issues under the ADA, FMLA, and state workers’ compensation law, employment contracts, IT policies, privacy issues and technology in the workplace, and counseling clients when faced with downsizing or reorganizing their workforce.  Speth is also involved in representing teaching healthcare institutions with legal issues that arise with medical residents both in the employment and educational context.

Kathy Dudley Helms has practiced at all levels from administrative agencies to the United States Supreme Court and also is skilled in both mediation and arbitration of cases.  She has extensive experience working with clients on a wide range of employment issues and enjoys working with individuals who range from team leaders to company presidents and representing management in a varied group of entities.  She represents her clients not only in litigation but in active preventative maintenance, interaction, and intervention designed to create a workplace in which litigation is the exception, rather than the rule.  She is also a frequent speaker and provides training on a wide range of employment related issues including FMLA, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, retaliation, discipline, and hiring and firing.

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 across the U.S.  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 Ryan King, public relations manager, at (404) 870-1742.