Ogletree Deakins Attorneys Named Among “The Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys”

ATLANTA – June 27, 2012 – 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 Ed Cerasia, Managing Shareholder of the firm’s New York City office, and Joe Clees, a shareholder in the firm’s Phoenix office, have been named the Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys for 2012 by Human Resource Executive and Lawdragon. This is the fourth consecutive year in which Clees has been selected by clients and colleagues for inclusion in the Most Powerful list. Cerasia has been named to the list for a second consecutive year as one of the top 40 Up-and-Comers for his exemplary work in the labor and employment law field.

The Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys list recognizes employment lawyers across the United States for their excellence in guiding employers through today’s ever-intensifying legal landscape. Both Cerasia and Clees have received glowing recommendations from corporate counsel who have benefited from their wisdom and continue to seek their counsel in employment related matters. In being named to the list, Clees and Cerasia have been identified as delivering unparalleled legal service to corporate counsel and human resource professionals by providing business solutions that resolve difficult employment situations and keep employers in compliance with the country’s increasingly complicated and changing workplace-related laws and regulations.

Cerasia has more than 20 years of experience and represents employers throughout the United States in the financial services, insurance, transportation, healthcare, media, higher education, and retail industries. Throughout his career, Cerasia has successfully handled and defended a variety of litigation matters including single-plaintiff, multiple-plaintiff, class action, collective action, and pattern and practice cases. His litigation and trial experience includes representing management against claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; issues arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act and various state wage and hour laws; claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act involving breaches of fiduciary duty, prohibited transactions, 401(k) issues, severance pay, and challenges to plan denials of benefits, plan amendments, and termination of benefits; whistleblower claims; claims of defamation, breach of contract, and intentional torts; and issues involving restrictive covenants and employee recruitment practices.

Throughout his career, Cerasia has been held in high regard by clients and colleagues alike as evidenced in his being named to Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, and New York and New Jersey Super Lawyers.

Practicing employment law for more than 25 years, Clees was selected based on a variety of criteria, including tenure, impact and importance of cases handled, and publications and influence among peers. Specifically, he has been applauded for his “integrity and common sense” as well as his “pragmatic style.” In his practice, Clees represents employers throughout the United States in discrimination and wrongful discharge cases and labor relations. He also counsels clients on a wide array of state, federal, and tribal compliance laws.    

Beyond the Most Powerful Employment Attorney award, Clees also has been recognized for several years as one of the Best Lawyers in America. He was singled out as one of the “The Legal 500” and the Arizona Business Magazine rates him as one of the “Top Attorneys of Arizona.” Clees has also been designated as a “Best of the Bar” by the Phoenix Business Journal and has been rated as one of the “Southwest Super Lawyers” for several years. He has also been recognized as one of the “Top 50 Southwest Super Lawyers.”

 

About Ogletree Deakins

Ogletree Deakins is one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. The firm has more than 600 lawyers located in 41 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.