Ogletree Deakins Named Riley Institute’s Upstate Diversity Leadership Award Winner

GREENVILE, S.C. – May 11, 2017 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that the firm has won the Riley Institute’s Upstate Diversity Leadership Award for Outstanding Business. Established in 2004, this award recognizes a business that exhibits leadership in promoting diversity in the Upstate South Carolina region.

“We are honored to receive the Upstate Diversity Leadership Award from The Riley Institute,” said Michelle Wimes, Ogletree Deakins’ director of professional development and inclusion. “Diversity at Ogletree Deakins is seen not only in our attorneys, but in our ideas and our practice. Because of the excellent team we have created, we are able to offer effective workplace solutions to our clients that leverage the diverse range of insights and perspectives that our attorneys have to offer.”

The Upstate serves a culturally rich and diverse population and wide array of local and international organizations. This award showcases those who are committed to supporting and sustaining an inclusive environment. The award was presented to Ogletree Deakins at Wednesday’s awards dinner, hosted by the Greenville Chamber and Riley Institute at Furman University in partnership with Upstate Chambers Coalition.

 “As we continue within our law firm to recruit and retain diverse lawyers and staff—ones with different genders, races, sexual orientations, backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints—we appreciate this wonderful award and its acknowledgment of our work so far,” said Stephen Woods, a shareholder in the Greenville office who accepted the award on behalf of Ogletree Deakins. “For us, diversity is an easy choice; it’s the right thing to do, both because of our core values and to provide the best legal services for our employer-clients.”

 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. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core values. U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for six consecutive years. In 2017, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Labor Law – Management category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 800 attorneys located in 52 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies. www.ogletree.com

About The Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative

The mission of the Riley Diversity Leaders Initiative is to educate leaders to make quality decisions to manage diversity through both inclusion and requirement-driven approaches. Winners of the diversity award (individuals and organizations) are role models in promoting diversity in the areas of business, individual leadership, community building, schools and civic organizations.