Ogletree Deakins’ Craig Cleland and Ted Speth Named BTI Client Service All-Stars

ATLANTA, GA – February 16, 2010 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), the nation’s third-largest labor and employment law firm, is pleased to announce that Craig Cleland and Ted Speth, of the firm’s Atlanta and Columbia offices, respectively, have been selected as 2010 Client Service All-Stars by the BTI Consulting Group.  The BTI Client Service All-Stars are an elite group of attorneys nominated solely and exclusively by corporate counsel in BTI’s independent study as delivering the absolute best in client service.  This year, BTI conducted interviews with 250 general counsel from large and Fortune 1000 companies across various industries to generate their list of All-Stars.  Cleland and Speth are in a select group of Client Service All-Stars as they are two of only 13 attorneys, selected nationally, in the labor and employment law arena. 

“I have spent 20 years dissecting all aspects of client relationships through client interviews and systematic analysis,” said Michael Rynowecer, president of The BTI Consulting Group.  “Having directed more than 2,000 independent interviews with corporate counsel and helped countless professionals improve client relationships, I admire those who embody and deliver superior client service.  Congratulations to Mr. Cleland, Mr. Speth, and Ogletree Deakins for their outstanding performance.”

As part of the interviews, BTI asked corporate counsel, and their direct reports, to delineate the attorneys delivering the absolute best client service.  Responses from those interviews found that fostering mutually beneficial relationships, responsiveness, providing practical and efficient solutions, understanding the client’s business, awareness of possible concerns to company reputation, and potential costs associated with employment issues were among the attributes that make for exceptional client service.  

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 450 lawyers located in 37 offices across 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 United States.  For more information, please contact Ryan King, public relations manager, at (404) 870-1742.  

About The BTI Consulting Group

BTI is the leading provider of strategic research to law firms and General Counsel.  For the past 20 years, BTI has delivered compelling, custom client surveys to firms with six to 600 partners.  BTI also provides syndicated market research about client service, market direction and client satisfaction to more than 200 top law firms.  BTI’s work spans 13 different professions, helping clients learn best practices from world-class firms in virtually all professional services industries.