Former Member of National Mediation Board Joins Ogletree Deakins

WASHINGTON – February 21, 2013 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Elizabeth “Liz” Dougherty as a shareholder in its Washington D.C. office. Dougherty will formalize and lead Ogletree Deakins’ new Airline and Railway Practice Group and will be active in supporting the firm’s Governmental Affairs Practice Group based in the Washington D.C. office. 

Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Dougherty served on the National Mediation Board, an independent agency that oversees airline and railroad labor relations and administers the Railway Labor Act. As one of three Senate-confirmed Presidential appointees on the board, Dougherty’s responsibilities included oversight and mediation of collective bargaining, conducting and investigating representation elections, and oversight of the grievance arbitration program. During her tenure, Dougherty twice served as Chairman of the Board (2009–2010 and 2006–2007). Previously, Dougherty served as Special Assistant for Domestic Policy at the White House under President George W. Bush, where she covered labor and transportation issues, and as Chief Counsel to the United States Senate Subcommittee on Employment, Safety and Training.

“Liz gives Ogletree Deakins instant credibility in the airline and railway industries as a consequence of her six years of service on the National Mediation Board,” said Melissa Bailey, Managing Shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Washington office. “Her intelligence, energy and personality, combined with her significant Washington network, make her the perfect candidate to launch our new Airline and Railway Practice Group.”

Dougherty earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from Duke University. She serves on the board of trustees for Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School, and Horton’s Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive services to the children of DC’s Ward 8.

About Ogletree Deakins

Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. The firm has more than 650 lawyers located in 43 offices across the United States and in Europe. Ogletree Deakins was named “Law Firm of the Year” in both the Litigation – Labor & Employment and the Employment Law – Management categories in the 2013 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list. 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 or Mary Lou Baxter.