Late Ogletree Deakins Firm Founder J. Hamilton Stewart, III Memorialized by Greenville County Bar Association

GREENVILLE, S.C. – December 13, 2017 – J. Hamilton (Jimmie) Stewart, III, a founding member of Ogletree Deakins, was memorialized by the Greenville County Bar Association today in a ceremony marking the lives of legal members of the community who have recently passed. Ogletree Deakins attorney and fellow firm founder Fred Suggs memorialized Stewart.

Stewart was a principal force in forming Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins) on February 14, 1977. From humble beginnings based on core values of one team, mutual respect, exceptional client service, and open governance, he and his co-founders never wavered from these principles. The firm started with just 16 lawyers based in Greenville, S.C. and Atlanta, Ga. and has since grown into one of the largest labor and employment law firms, with more than 850 lawyers in 52 offices internationally.

“Jimmie Stewart stood for everything that is good about the legal profession,” Suggs said. “Jimmie’s kindness, civility, and collegiality set the standard for our firm. Since Jimmie passed away on November 11, 2016, we have deeply missed his wise counsel, leadership, and friendship. Our firm appreciates the Greenville Bar Association honoring Jimmie at the Special Term of Court Memorial Service because Jimmie was not only important to our firm but to the entire Bar.”

Stewart practiced labor and employment law for more than 45 years. He was certified as a specialist in Employment and Labor Law by the South Carolina Bar, was chairman of the initial South Carolina Bar’s Specialization Advisory Board, and was instrumental in developing the standards used to qualify an individual as a specialist in the field of Labor and Employment Law in the state of South Carolina. Stewart represented hundreds of clients throughout his career with a primary focus on positive employee relations among union-free clients, collective bargaining for unionized clients, and all types of matters before the National Labor Relations Board.

Stewart was deeply committed to serving his community, both civically and professionally. Over the course of his storied career, he served the South Carolina Bar as president of the Young Lawyers Division, chairman of the Employment and Labor Law Section, and as a member of the Board of Governors. He was a member of the South Carolina Labor Department Advisory Committee on Arbitration and the Board of Advisors for the Positive Employee Practices Institute. He sat on the board of advisors for the Olin Institute at Mason University and the Board of Trustees for Camperdown Academy. Stewart was a life member of the Greenville Commerce Club, a community volunteer for the Greater Greenville Master Gardeners Association, and a member of the Greenville Poinsett Club, St. Andrew’s Society, and the Hibernian Society of Charleston, S.C.

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 seven consecutive years. In 2018, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor & Employment category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 850 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