Ogletree Deakins Adds Prominent Southern California Employment and Disability Rights Attorney

LOS ANGELES – March 11, 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 David Raizman as a shareholder in its Los Angeles office. Raizman is nationally known for his disability rights practice, specifically for his work under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2012, he was recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the top labor and employment attorneys in California and has been recognized multiple times as a Southern California Super Lawyer. He joins Ogletree Deakins from Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, where he was a partner.

“David’s extensive experience in handling Title III disability access matters adds another specialty to our practice in the Los Angeles office. He is a brilliant litigator who has achieved consistently favorable results on behalf of his clients,” said Betsy Johnson, managing shareholder of the Los Angeles office of Ogletree Deakins. “His arrival deepens the bench strength of our LA office and he will add tremendous value for our clients.”

Raizman works extensively with hotels, sports franchises, stadium and arena owners and operators, amusement parks, theaters, retailers, municipalities and many other clients to help secure their compliance with disability access laws and to defend the class action and other litigation that is frequently brought against them.  In addition to his disability rights experience, Raizman has a thriving practice focused on defending employers on the full range of employment claims, including discrimination claims, wage and hour claims, sexual harassment claims, disputes over family and medical leave laws and trade secret and non-compete issues. Outside of his litigation practice, Raizman counsels clients regarding disciplinary decisions, development of best practices, workforce reductions, legal compliance, and employment-related transactions. He also regularly advises national clients on how to formulate restrictive covenants that the California courts and other jurisdictions will enforce.

A frequent writer and lecturer on labor and employment topics including disability rights, trade secrets and non-compete agreements, Raizman acted as a contributing editor for the California chapters of several BNA publications. He has also written articles for a variety of publications including California Real Property Journal, Lodging Hospitality and SHRM Online, and has served as a speaker for the Association of Corporate Counsel. Raizman earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was on the board of editors of the Columbia Human Rights Law Review, and his M.S.J. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He earned an A.B. in economics from Vassar College.

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.