Ogletree Deakins Grows Denver Office, Increases National Presence of Firm’s Immigration Practice Group

DENVER, CO – September 1, 2010 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms, is pleased to announce the arrival of Christopher Thomas and Angelica Ochoa as Shareholders, John Combs as Of Counsel, and Jocelyn Campanaro as an Associate to the firm’s Denver office.  All are formerly with the immigration practice group of Holland & Hart LLP in Denver.  The group, headed by Thomas, will serve as the firm’s immigration practice group in the western United States and integrate with the firm’s existing immigration practices in Raleigh, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia.  Since opening in February 2010, the Denver office has grown to 10 attorneys.   

“This is a truly dynamic group with a focus on providing outstanding client service,” said Steve Moore, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Denver office.  “We are enthusiastic about this opportunity to add critical mass to our Denver office and immigration bench strength in the Rocky Mountain Region.”

“This group has great team chemistry and our national platform is a natural fit for their practice,” said Andrew Merrills, chair of the firm’s Immigration Practice Group.  “They understand and are proponents of a value-based billing model, which clients continue to seek given the current economy.”

In his practice, Thomas represents employers in immigration-related investigations, including I-9 audits, onsite inspections, and a wide-range of other government-initiated procedures.  He has extensive experience in advising and representing management in preparation of employment-based nonimmigrant petitions, labor certification applications, and adjustment of status and consular processing applications.  He also assists individuals with family-based petitions and naturalization applications.  Thomas is a prolific author and frequent lecturer on immigration issues to human resource managers and corporate management.  He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and serves of the Boards of the Latin American Research and Service Agency and the Denver Chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society.  Thomas earned his J.D., cum laude, from Tulane Law School in 1997, and a B.A., cum laude, from Brigham Young University in 1994.      

Angelica Ochoa focuses her practice on employment-based immigration into the United States.  She has considerable experience in obtaining nonimmigrant work visas and employment-based immigrant visas for management and specialized skills employees.  She regularly advises and represents clients in preparation of a variety of petitions and in all employment preference categories.  Ochoa also assists clients through I-9 compliance issues and provides management training on immigration-related issues.  She also represents clients in appeals to the Administrative Appeal Office and has experience with family-based immigration petitions and naturalization and citizenship applications.  Ochoa is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Hispanic Bar Association, and was named to the 2010 Colorado Super Lawyers in Immigration.  Ochoa earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2001, and a B.A., cum laude, from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1995.       

John Combs has vast experience in assisting employers and management develop processes for permanent residency applications and nonimmigrant visa petitions.  He also assists employers in implementing successful employment verification compliance programs.  Combs has particular experience regarding immigration issues and programs available to Southeast Asians stemming from the Vietnam War.  He serves as a mentor to American Immigration Lawyers Association members on visa processing and representation issues in Vietnam.  Combs is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and is listed in Best Lawyers in Immigration.  Combs earned his J.D. from the University of Idaho in 1983, a LL.M. from the University of Denver in 1989, and B.S. from Michigan State University in 1978.   

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.