Ogletree Deakins Bolsters Disability Access Practice, Adds Shareholder Christopher Wong

LOS ANGELES – February 2, 2015 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Christopher Wong as a shareholder in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Wong joins Ogletree Deakins from Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP where he was a partner and focused his practice on disability access issues. Wong’s arrival at Ogletree Deakins will immediately strengthen the firm’s disability access practice, which has grown swiftly since prominent disability access attorney David Raizman joined the firm’s Los Angeles office in 2013.

Wong, who has practiced law for more than 25 years, works extensively with retailers, hotels, stadium owners and operators, governmental entities and others in litigation concerning alleged violations of state and federal disability access laws. He has defended numerous class actions involving disability access allegations under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Wong also regularly counsels clients on all aspects of class action litigation, including opposing class certification, phasing discovery, dispositive motion practice, and negotiating settlements. Wong has represented clients in state and federal courts, at the trial and appellate levels, as well as in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Wong earned his J.D. from Yale Law School and earlier received his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.

“The firm’s disability access practice continues to grow and is driven by increased litigation and client demand,” said Betsy Johnson, managing shareholder of the Los Angeles office of Ogletree Deakins. “Chris has a depth of experience that will immediately strengthen the capabilities of the group and assist employers across a range of industries that face these complex and developing issues.”

“I have practiced with Chris for 20 of the last 25 years and am very excited to reunite,” said Raizman, co-chair of Ogletree Deakins’ Disability Access/Title III Practice Group. “He is a first-rate, class action litigator with substantial experience in disability access litigation who will be an excellent addition to our expanding Disability Access Practice Group.”

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 700 lawyers located in 47 offices across the United States, in Europe, and in Mexico. Ogletree Deakins has been named a Law Firm of the Year four consecutive years by U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms.” In 2015, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Labor Law – Management category. 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.