PITTSBURGH – September 5, 2023 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Karen Baillie and Terri Imbarlina Patak as shareholders in the firm’s Pittsburgh office. Baillie joins Ogletree Deakins from Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, where she chaired that firm’s Higher Education practice group. Patak arrives from Jackson Lewis. The duo’s arrival signals a flurry of growth for the firm’s Pittsburgh office, as they are the second and third shareholders to join the office within the last four months.
“Karen and Terri have both spent their decades-long law careers practicing exclusively in Pittsburgh, giving them a deep and personal knowledge of the local legal and business landscapes,” said Jenn Betts, managing shareholder of the firm’s Pittsburgh office. “Their extensive labor and employment law experience, combined with their client-centric approach, make the pair a wonderful addition to the Pittsburgh office and firm at large. We are thrilled to have Karen and Terri join our flourishing Pittsburgh team.”
Baillie has a specific focus on advising and defending educational institutions, including counseling school leadership on student and employee issues ranging from discipline to Title IX. She also handles matters in all areas of employment law, including discrimination, accommodations, leave management, restrictive covenants, separations, reductions in force, union activity, policy advice, and many other issues that confront employers daily. In addition to her advice and counsel practice, Baillie assists employers in responding to administrative complaints and litigation and frequently oversees workplace investigations.
Baillie was chosen by her peers for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and her B.A., cum laude, from Colgate University.
Patak has practiced labor and employment law for nearly 30 years. She counsels and defends employers across a full range of labor and employment issues, including civil rights claims, wage and hour issues, hiring and interviewing, and internal investigations. Patak also regularly conducts workplace trainings on employment discrimination and harassment, best practices for human resources management, and union avoidance.
Patak earned recognition in the Litigation – Labor and Employment category of the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. She earned her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and her B.J. from the University of Missouri.
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. 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