Ogletree Deakins Deepens Class Action Practice Group, Former Chief Counsel for the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement Joins Firm’s Los Angeles Office

LOS ANGELES – June 10, 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 Robert Roginson as a shareholder in its Los Angeles office. Roginson’s experience deepens the firm’s Litigation, Class Action, Wage and Hour, and Traditional Labor Relations practice groups. His arrival at Ogletree Deakins also demonstrates the firm’s commitment to growth in California. Since the start of 2013, the firm has added five shareholders throughout the state and opened an office in San Diego. Firm-wide, Roginson’s arrival makes him the 17^th shareholder to join Ogletree Deakins in 2013.

Roginson joins Ogletree Deakins from Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, PC, where he was a partner in the firm’s Employer Services Practice Group. He focuses a majority of his practice on representing employers in class actions involving a variety of allegations, including employee misclassification, meal and rest period violations, off-the-clock claims, and record keeping violations. He also counsels employers and companies on California and federal wage/hour and pay practice laws, prevailing wage laws, project labor agreements (PLAs), reduction in force issues and Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notification requirements, labor relations and union matters, tribal immunity and sovereignty issues, and retaliation and discrimination claims.

“Bob is an exceptional lawyer with significant experience handling prevailing wage and wage and hour litigation and compliance, especially in the transportation and construction industries,” said Betsy Johnson, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Los Angeles office. “His multi-faceted skill set is sought after by California employers who continue to face and handle a litany of regulations and legal issues that are unique to the state. Bob is relentless in his representation of his clients and has the client service approach and mentality that Ogletree Deakins is well-known for. We are excited to have him join our Los Angeles office.” 

From 2007 to 2010, Roginson served as Chief Counsel for the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Roginson represented and advised the California Labor Commissioner and her staff in all aspects of enforcement and interpretation of California’s labor and wage/hour laws, licensing requirements, and retaliation statutes. He also managed and directed the Division’s litigation and handled matters involving meal and rest period compliance and enforcements, public works and prevailing wage requirements, child labor and work permit issues, the Talent Agency Act, farm labor contracting, garment manufacturing, and the Private Attorney General Act (PAGA).

An experienced speaker, Roginson regularly presents at events hosted by organizations including the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the California Department of Industrial Relations, among others. Roginson earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School and earlier received his B.A. from Georgetown University. 

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 44 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.

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