Ogletree Deakins Expands New York City Office, Adds Shareholder Frank Birchfield

NEW YORK – April 3, 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 William F. “Frank” Birchfield as a shareholder in its New York City office. Birchfield joins Ogletree Deakins after practicing as a partner in the employment group at the employment defense firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. With the addition of Birchfield, Ogletree Deakins continues the rapid growth across its network of offices. Since January, the firm has increased its shareholder ranks in its Austin, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis, and Washington offices. 

Birchfield focuses his nearly two decades of practice on performing union negotiations, litigating labor and employment disputes, and counseling employers on policy and compliance matters, risk avoidance, and labor organizing issues. He has significant trial experience with multi-plaintiff wage and hour matters and EEO claims, and has been the lead attorney in multiple cases of harassment and discrimination litigation. Birchfield’s traditional labor relations experience is a substantial part of his practice. Over the course of his career, he has coordinated labor relations activity for many large employers, including bargaining and maintaining labor contracts, conducting numerous trials and representation hearings before the National Labor Relations Board, arbitrating hundreds of grievances, and providing ongoing corporate campaign strategy for employers targeted by unions.

“Frank is a seasoned and savvy attorney who has deep labor and employment law experience, as well as extensive knowledge of the healthcare and financial services industries,” said Kim Ebert, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins. “Frank offers a unique perspective to our New York City office, gained from two decades of practice throughout the state of California and in Washington D.C.“  

Birchfield earned his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he graduated first in his class, and his B.A., with highest honors, from Hendrix 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.