Ogletree Deakins Continues Rapid Growth, Opens New Office in Lexington, KY

LEXINGTON, KY – April 1, 2025 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that the firm is opening an office in Lexington, Kentucky. This is the firm’s 60^th office globally, following the launch of five new offices within the past year. John M. Williams will serve as the Lexington office managing shareholder and is joined by shareholder Melanie J. Kilpatrick. John and Melanie arrive from Williams Kilpatrick, where they were the named partners.

“John and Melanie have practiced law in Kentucky for a combined 65 years and earned a reputation as premier labor and employment lawyers in the region,” said Liz Washko, managing shareholder for Ogletree Deakins. “With their leadership in the Lexington office, we continue to expand our footprint in the United States and abroad. Lexington serves as the central location in the Commonwealth, which allows us to serve clients in the area even more effectively.”

John and Melanie have practiced law together for more than 27 years. Their practice focuses on Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and employment litigation. They often represent mineral operators before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

“Melanie and I can’t wait to add our talents to one of the most prestigious labor and employment law firms in the world to accelerate our growth in the area and immediately benefit clients in the Commonwealth,” said John.

John serves as a volunteer counselor with the Kentucky Bar Association Lawyer’s Assistance Program, as a trustee for the Kentucky Lawyers Assistance Program Foundation, and on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Kentucky. He holds a J.D. and B.B.A. from the University of Kentucky. Melanie serves as President-Elect of the University of Kentucky Law Alumni Association and on the Scholarship Committee of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation. She holds a J.D. from the University of Kentucky and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. Both Melanie and John are trustees for the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation.

Both have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^© for their work in Energy Law, Employment Law (Management), Litigation (Labor and Employment), and Mining Law.

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 14 consecutive years. In the 2025 edition, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor and Employment Law category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 1,100 attorneys located in 60 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