Ogletree Deakins Bolsters Immigration Practice in New York, Adds Shareholder Maria Gandarez

NEW YORK CITY – January 23, 2014 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Maria Fernandez Gandarez as a shareholder in the firm’s New York City office. Gandarez, who joins Ogletree Deakins from the New York City office of Fragomen, has practiced in the immigration law field for more than 20 years.

Gandarez’s immigration law practice includes advising clients in the acquisition of temporary employment visas and permanent residence, employer sanctions, employment verification procedures, immigration-related discrimination practices, and the consequences of mergers and acquisitions and other corporate restructurings. Her clients include multinational companies in industries including finance, law, energy, consumer goods and products, medical equipment manufacturing, fashion design, information technology, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology.

“Maria will be instrumental to the continued success and growth of Ogletree Deakins’ immigration practice, both in New York City and firm-wide,” said Ronald Kreismann, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ New York City office. “Her experience is an asset for clients, as she is known for efficiently handling complex and routine immigration law issues with a demonstrated commitment to client service.”

Gandarez has authored a wide range of articles on immigration law in numerous ethnic community and local newspapers, magazines, and brochures, and has spoken on immigration-related topics for organizations including the American Council on International Personnel (ACIP), Overseas Human Resource Discussion Group (OHRDG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and NALS, the Association of Legal Professionals. In addition to English, Gandarez is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Italian. Gandarez earned her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law.

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 700 lawyers located in 45 offices across the United States and in Europe. Ogletree Deakins is the “Law Firm of the Year” in both the Employment Law – Management and Labor Law – Management categories in the 2014 edition of the 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, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies.