Ogletree Deakins Opens 40th Office, Increases Presence in the West

Fifth New Office Opening in 2010 Extends Firm’s Strategic Growth

PORTLAND, OR – July 8, 2010 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms, is opening an office in Portland – its fortieth – today.  David P.R. Symes, formerly with Perkins Coie, LLP, will join the firm as managing shareholder of the Portland office.  Additional attorneys are expected to join soon.  

“As we continue to execute upon our growth strategy, we’re excited to establish a presence in Portland,” said Kim Ebert, the firm’s managing shareholder.  “This move allows the firm to serve clients in the Pacific Northwest, and also extends our ability to provide top quality labor and employment law services from coast to coast.”
 
In his practice, Symes represents employers in litigation and arbitration across a variety of industries, including telecommunications, financial services, retail, transportation services, manufacturing, and emerging growth technology.  He has successfully handled complex, multiple plaintiff, and class action litigation involving such issues as equal employment opportunities, wage and hour law, and disability law.  Symes also has substantial experience in enforcing and defending noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreements, and in preventing the misappropriation of trade secrets and other confidential information.

“Ogletree Deakins is built on a platform of excellent lawyering and superior client service.  From my perspective, that makes Ogletree Deakins a perfect fit for my practice in the Pacific Northwest,” said Symes.

Symes is AV Peer Review Rated, the highest rating, by Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” in Chambers USA in the Labor & Employment category for three consecutive years, 2008 – 2010. 

With the addition of the Portland office, Ogletree Deakins now has 40 offices across the United States.  This is Ogletree Deakins’ fifth new office this year, having opened its Las Vegas office in January, its Denver office in February, an Orange County office in March, and its Minneapolis office in April. 

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 500 lawyers located in 40 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.