Ogletree Deakins Continues Growth in Firm’s Greenville Office

GREENVILLE, SC – May 27, 2011 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms, welcomes Penny Wofford as a shareholder to the firm’s Greenville, South Carolina office. Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Wofford was a partner in the Spartanburg, South Carolina office of Ford & Harrison LLP. Wofford is a South Carolina Supreme Court Certified Specialist in Employment and Labor Law. She concentrates her practice in the areas of employment litigation and employee benefits. She also advises and defends employers, employer-sponsored plans, and plan fiduciaries against all types of claims arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and employment discrimination laws. In addition to Wofford’s litigation practice, she also provides counseling and legal advice to employers and management regarding human resources issues and also assists employers with the design, drafting, and administration of welfare benefit and retirement plans.

“Employee benefits issues continue to be a growing area of the law and Penny is well-versed and experienced in both the counseling and litigation aspects,” said Mike Shetterly, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Greenville office. “With the addition of Penny, her knowledge and experience enables us to continue building a deep bench of talented professionals that serve the needs of clients not only in the Carolinas, but also in the firm’s network of offices.” 
 
Outside of her practice, Wofford serves on the Employee Benefits Committee of the American Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section. She is also the Past President of the Greenville Society of Human Resources Management. She was also a past member of the Board of Piedmont Care Consortium, and a past Chair of the Board of Directors for Stop the Violence. Wofford is a frequent speaker on employee benefits and employee leave topics such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) compliance and employer responsibilities for employee benefit plans.

Wofford earned her J.D. from University of South Carolina in 1998. While in law school, she served as a member of the University of South Carolina Law Review. In 1994, she received a B.A., magna cum laude, also from the University of South Carolina.

Ogletree Deakins has recently added shareholders in the firm’s Boston, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and Tampa offices. 

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 550 lawyers located in 40 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 United States. For more information, please contact Ryan King, public relations manager, at (404) 870-1742.