Ogletree Deakins Promotes Four to Office Managing Shareholder

ATLANTA – February 1, 2021 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce new office managing shareholders in four of its offices. The new leaders include Lisa Hamasaki in the firm’s San Francisco office, James (Jim) Murphy in Washington D.C, Phillip (Phil) Strach in Raleigh, and David Warren in Birmingham.

Lisa Hamasaki succeeds Tom McInerney as office managing shareholder in the firm’s San Francisco office. Tom departs his post and returns full-time to his employment litigation practice. Lisa brings more than 20 years of experience in labor and employment law to the role, including defending and advising companies with regard to all aspects of California and federal employment law. She takes a highly strategic and thorough approach to defending clients in litigation and has led the defense of many employment lawsuits across numerous industries. Lisa has also been selected for the Northern California Super Lawyers every year since 2012 and named to both the “Top Attorneys in Northern California” and “Top Women Attorneys in Northern California” lists by San Francisco Magazine for more than five consecutive years.

Jim Murphy assumes the role of office managing shareholder in the firm’s Washington D.C. office as Margo Lopez returns full time to her workplace safety practice focused on the mining industry. Jim has been a management-side labor and employment lawyer for 25 years, advising and representing both Fortune 100 and local clients in the government contracting, healthcare, and entertainment industries, as well as in manufacturing, higher education, and retail. He has extensive familiarity with the unique employment issues affecting federal contractors and is co-chair of the firm’s Defense Contracting practice group. Jim has been named an Acritas Stars™ lawyer since 2018 and is actively involved in the employment law community as a member of the American Bar Association’s Section of Labor & Employment Law and the American Employment Law Council.

Phil Strach leads the Raleigh office as office managing shareholder, following Bob Sar. Bob returns to his labor and employment law practice representing clients in a myriad of industries. Phil is a trial lawyer who regularly represents management in labor and employment law and related matters with a focus on advising clients on covenants not to compete and litigating claims involving restrictive covenants, trade secrets, and other business-related litigation. He also regularly defends management and employers in employment discrimination cases and counsels management on how to prevent or reduce the risk of these lawsuits. Phil has been repeatedly recognized by peer review publications such as the Legal Elite, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers^®.

David Warren succeeds James Pennington as office managing shareholder. James returns full time to his employment law practice, where he helps employers achieve peaceful, productive workplaces. David has represented employers in the employment and labor law field for nearly 30 years, with an emphasis on litigation prevention counseling and employment litigation defense. David’s counseling practice includes training employees and supervisors on employment law issues, and his litigation experience encompasses all forms of discrimination claims. He is a founding member of the Birmingham office. David has been named to the Best Lawyers^® in America list since 2013 and as an Alabama Super Lawyer since 2012.

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 10 consecutive years. In 2021, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor & Employment category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 900 attorneys located in 53 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