Ogletree Deakins Expands Phoenix Office, Adds Mark Kisicki and Thomas Stanek as Shareholders

PHOENIX, AZ – October 25, 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 Mark Kisicki and Thomas Stanek have joined its Phoenix office as shareholders. Both join Ogletree Deakins from Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where they were resident in the firm’s Phoenix office. Kisicki and Stanek’s practices are national in scope, with a balance of traditional labor, employment law and litigation. Their arrival deepens Ogletree Deakins’ labor and employment law experience in Phoenix and reaffirms the firm’s status as the “go-to” firm for employers – not merely in Arizona but throughout the nation.

“Mark and Tom are well-known and highly regarded attorneys nationally and in Arizona’s local legal community. We are thrilled that they have joined Ogletree Deakins,” said Kim Ebert, Ogletree Deakins’ Managing Shareholder. “Their talents will add to the bench strength of our Arizona offices, with a tremendous upside for our clients both locally and nationally. Their client base will integrate nicely into our network of offices – allowing their clients to enjoy quality representation throughout the country.” 

With nearly 35 years of collective experience, Kisicki and Stanek have a substantial traditional labor practice, having handled dozens of union avoidance campaigns from coast to coast and hundreds of unfair labor practice allegations and proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board. In addition, they are experienced litigators, having defended employers in a wide range of labor and employment law matters from internal investigations to claims arising under the False Claims Act. They regularly counsel management regarding all aspects of the employment relationship, including compliance with federal and state discrimination, harassment and wrongful discharge laws. They also routinely counsel and represent clients in matters involving restrictive covenants, and draft non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disclosure agreements and represent clients in enforcement proceedings in jurisdictions across the country.

Kisicki graduated, magna cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1990, where he was a member of the Pepperdine Law Review. He also is admitted to practice in California. Kisicki has been named to the 2012 Best Lawyers in America list in the Labor Law – Management category and in the 2011 edition of Chambers USA, and has been named to Super Lawyers each of the past four years. Outside of his legal practice, Kisicki is a regular speaker at national programs and a guest lecturer at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University each semester on the National Labor Relations Act and Labor Arbitrations. Kisicki is also active in the Labor & Employment Section of the American Bar Association.

Stanek graduated, magna cum laude, from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University in 1999, and was an editor for the Arizona State Law Journal. While in law school, Stanek was a member of the Order of the Coif and Order of the Barristers. He is active in the Arizona State Bar Association and a member of the American Bar Association’s Section on Employee Rights and Responsibilities.

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 600 lawyers located in 40 offices. In addition to handling labor and employment law matters, the firm has thriving practices in business immigration, employee benefits, and workplace safety and health law. Ogletree Deakins represents a diverse range of clients, including more than one-half of the Fortune 50 corporations in the United States. For more information, please contact Ryan King, public relations manager, at (404) 870-1742.