Ogletree Deakins Opens New Office in Columbus, Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio – September 13, 2022 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that the firm has opened an office in Columbus, Ohio. The Columbus office, which is anticipated to grow quickly, marks Ogletree Deakins’ 54^th office internationally and second location in Ohio. It will be led by two highly regarded shareholders, Samuel Lillard and Mathew Parker, who join Ogletree Deakins from the Columbus office of Fisher Phillips.

“With its status as a burgeoning business hub for many industries, we believe our presence in Columbus will be highly beneficial for our clients,” said Matt Keen, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins. “Sam and Mat’s experience and established presence in the region make them the right team to lead our charge in the Columbus market.”

Backed by more than 30 years of labor and employment legal experience in Ohio, Lillard focuses his practice on general employment litigation, class action defense arbitration involving FLSA and FCRA claims, and mediation. He previously served as a former Assistant Ohio Attorney General and Assistant Prosecutor. Over the course of his career, Lillard has tried more than 300 bench trials, 15 jury trials, and argued more than 30 cases before Ohio’s Appellate Courts, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Lillard is an allied member of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association and a frequent lecturer to the hospitality industry and the Ohio Assisted Living Association on various employment topics. He earned his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and earlier received his B.A. from the University of Dayton.

Parker has practiced labor and employment law for more than 12 years, including seven years in the Columbus market and five years in New York City. He regularly defends employers against single- and multi-plaintiff wage and hour claims. Parker also counsels employers on a full spectrum of issues impacting the employer-employee relationship, including handbooks and policies, hiring and firing, performance evaluation, and leaves of absence. Parker is a frequent writer and speaker on employment law and HR-related topics. He earned his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and his B.A. from Fordham University.

The addition of Lillard and Parker continues Ogletree Deakins’ growth in the Ohio market. In June, Ogletree Deakins welcomed three other attorneys from Fisher Phillips to the firm’s Cleveland office, which now has more than 20 attorneys.

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 54 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