Ogletree Deakins Deepens Los Angeles Office, Adds Shareholder

LOS ANGELES, CA – August 30, 2011 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms, is pleased to announce that Betsy Johnson has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a shareholder. Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Johnson was a Member of the Firm (Partner) of the Labor and Employment practice group in the Los Angeles office of Epstein Becker Green. At her former firm, she was also a member of the Diversity Committee and Social Media Committee, among others. During her career, she has successfully represented clients before state and federal agencies, including the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Johnson has experience in a wide range of employment and labor law matters, including wage and hour, trade secrets, executive compensation, employment contracts, harassment, and invasion of privacy actions. She also assists employers in conducting internal compliance audits and with investigations by various state and federal agencies; and has experience in creating and refining personnel policies, procedures, manuals and grievance procedures to proactively address potential employment issues. As part of her practice, Johnson also conducts training seminars for senior management, supervisors and human resources professionals on preventing unlawful harassment and discrimination, effective performance management, wrongful terminations claims, and managing leaves of absence and disability issues. 

“Betsy is an excellent lawyer with nearly three decades of employment law experience,” said Matthew Effland, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Los Angeles office. “Her substantial knowledge and experience as a litigator along with a strong advice and counsel practice will be a valuable and efficient asset to clients and the firm.” 

Outside of her practice, Johnson is a frequent speaker to employer trade associations on a broad range of topics ranging from handling employee medical issues to employee compensation and benefits plans. She has written articles for BNA publications, the Daily Journal, California Lawyer, and HR Advisor. She is also a member of the National Association of Women Lawyers. Johnson attended the University of South Carolina for undergraduate and law school, where she earned her B.A. in history, magna cum laude, in 1980 and her J.D. in 1982.

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.