Ogletree Deakins Expands Presence in Michigan

DETROIT – February 23, 2022 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce the expansion of the firm’s Detroit (Metro) office, with the addition of Daniel Villaire as a shareholder and Darlene Haas Awada as of counsel.

Villaire joins Ogletree Deakins from the firm from Howard & Howard, where he was a shareholder in the Detroit office. He has more than 20 years of experience counseling and representing employers on the full spectrum of labor and employment law matters, including: wages and overtime; medical and family leave; accommodations for disabilities; harassment and discrimination based on race, sex, gender, religion, ancestry, age, and disability; occupational health and safety; employee termination and separation agreements; non-compete and non-solicit agreements; mergers and acquisitions, and many other types of employment-based disputes. Villaire also has significant experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements, counseling employers on the development of workplace handbooks and policies, and assisting clients with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigations. He has represented employers before both federal and state courts, labor arbitrations, and administrative agencies nationwide, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Villaire earned his J.D. from Wayne State University, cum laude, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.

Haas Awada represents employers in all aspects of traditional labor matters. She has practiced law for more than 20 years, including more than 15 years as an attorney with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and most recently as a staff labor counsel and HR talent manager for a global automotive manufacturer. In her practice, Haas Awada provides strategic counsel to help employers avoid issues and litigation in the traditional labor space. She also represents employers before the NLRB and in arbitrations, negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, and advises clients on issues related to grievance administration and contract enforcement. Haas Awada joins Ogletree Deakins with many years of practical, in-house experience managing the labor issues that arise daily in large manufacturing environments.

Haas Awada earned her J.D. from the University of Toledo and a master’s degree in policy history from Bowling Green State University.

“In addition to their extensive knowledge and experience managing complex labor and employment matters, Dan and Darlene have a proven commitment to client service that will make them invaluable additions to our talented team of attorneys in Michigan,” said Meg Alli, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Detroit (Metro) office. “We are thrilled to welcome them to the firm.”

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 11 consecutive years. In 2022, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Employment Law – Management 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, including many of the Fortune 50 companies in the U.S. www.ogletree.com