Ogletree Deakins’ Mark Schmidtke Inducted as a Fellow into the American College of Employee Benefits

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – November 7, 2011 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that Mark Schmidtke, a shareholder in the firm’s Indianapolis office, has been inducted as a Fellow into the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel. The organization was created in recognition of significant legal and social policy issues impacting the regulation and management of pension, retirement, group health, welfare and disability plans. To be inducted as a Fellow, each nominee is required to have focused on employee benefits law for at least 20 years and have demonstrated a sustained commitment to public awareness and understanding of benefits laws through such activities as writing, speaking, public policy analysis, public education or public service. Nominees are also required to have provided exceptionally high-quality professional services to clients, the bar, and the public.

In his nearly 30 years of practice, Schmidtke has represented clients in ERISA and Non-ERISA employee benefits matters in state and federal courts through out the United States. He has been lead or co-lead counsel in ERISA litigation matters pending in the courts of 49 states. He has argued appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeals, as well as several state supreme courts. He serves as national ERISA Counsel for several large life, health and disability insurers, consulting with in-house counsel and outside counsel on litigation matters and advising in-house counsel and business clients on document drafting and policy issues. Schmidtke has also represented national and international companies in large class actions. He has written numerous books and articles on employee benefit-related issues and is a frequent speaker at national seminars.

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 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.