ATLANTA – January 4, 2022 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce seven new office managing shareholders. The new leaders include Walter Brown in the firm’s Kansas City office, Patrick R. Martin in Minneapolis, Michael Mitchell in Miami, Adam Pankratz in Seattle, Amanda Quan in Cleveland, Lance Witcher in St. Louis, and Luther Wright in Nashville. More than two-thirds of the newly promoted office managing shareholders are diverse attorneys.
Brown succeeds Stacy Bunck as office managing shareholder in Kansas City. Brown, who has been with Ogletree Deakins for more than five years, concentrates his practice on employment law matters, including state and federal discrimination actions based on race, age, sex, disability, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) retaliation, and class action wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Martin follows Cynthia Bremer in the role of Minneapolis office managing shareholder. Martin has spent more than 12 years at Ogletree Deakins since helping found the Minneapolis office in 2010. He has successfully defended employers in the full range of whistleblowing, discrimination, and employment claims, and he also defends and prosecutes non-compete lawsuits. Further, Martin serves on the firm’s Client Services Steering Committee and the firm’s Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Practice Group Steering Committee.
As office managing shareholder in Miami, Mitchell succeeds David DeMaio. Mitchell has practiced at the firm for more than 25 years and focuses primarily on employment-related litigation in federal and state court and representing clients before the various federal and state agencies charged with the enforcement of employment and labor laws.
Pankratz succeeds Anthony Byergo as office managing shareholder in Seattle. With nearly a decade of experience practicing at Ogletree Deakins, Pankratz represents local and national employers in a myriad of employment-related and complex commercial matters. Pankratz also serves as co-chair of Ogletree Deakins’ LGBTQ+ affinity group, and is a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee.
Quan follows Bruce Hearey as office managing shareholder in Cleveland. Quan has been with the firm for nearly a decade, where she represents employers in all types of employment litigation in both federal and state courts, in labor and employment arbitration proceedings, as well as before various administrative agencies. She also serves as co-chair of Ogletree Deakins’ Asian American affinity group.
Witcher succeeds Eric Todd in the role of St. Louis office managing shareholder. Witcher has practiced at Ogletree Deakins for nearly 15 years and represents employers in a wide range of employment-related litigation in both state and federal court, including before the U.S. Supreme Court. Witcher also regularly assists employers with managing inspections from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and defending against citations. Witcher also serves on Ogletree Deakins’ Professional Development Steering Committee.
Wright, who assumes the role of Nashville office managing shareholder, has been with the firm for more than a decade. He represents management in all forms of employment discrimination litigation, and devotes a significant amount of his practice to employee training on diversity and inclusion, workplace violence, and other employment-related issues. Wright also acts as co-chair of Ogletree Deakins’ Black attorney affinity group.
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 12 consecutive years. In the 2023 edition, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor & Employment category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 950 attorneys located in 55 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