Ogletree Deakins Reunites with Prominent Employment Litigator Daniel Verrett in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas – April 7, 2026 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Daniel Verrett back to the firm’s Austin office as a shareholder. Daniel returns to Ogletree Deakins after serving as an Attorney Coach and Trainer at Jackson Lewis, P.C, where he mentored more than 40 associates and of counsel attorneys on the practice of labor and employment law.

With more than 15 years of legal experience, Daniel is a trusted litigator and counselor who leads and manages a diverse array of labor and employment matters on behalf of management. He first joined Ogletree Deakins in 2012 as an associate, where his practice focused largely on employment litigation across the firm’s Houston and Austin offices. Daniel quickly earned greater responsibilities early in his career, gaining jury trial, bench trial, and labor arbitration experience as well as preparing and arguing several successful dispositive and discovery motions. He also handled cases involving Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) violations, as well as claims of race, gender, disability, and age discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

After his initial five-year stint with Ogletree Deakins, Daniel co-founded Moreland Verrett, P.C., where he served as shareholder and co-owner from 2017 to 2025. During that time, he managed personnel across the firm while leading class and collective action litigation, routinely serving as first-chair on seven-figure cases under Texas, New Mexico, and federal law.

“Daniel brings a rare combination of courtroom experience, entrepreneurial drive, leadership experience, and a commitment to developing talent, which is exactly what our clients need and our team expects,” said Erika Leonard, office managing shareholder in Austin. “His return is a testament to the team-first culture we have built here, and we could not be more excited to have him back.”

In addition to his experience leading employment litigation, Daniel provides proactive advice and counsel to employers on a broad spectrum of daily employment law issues. He also conducts on-site workplace investigations, prepares company witnesses for testimony, and defends depositions.

“I’m thrilled to return to Ogletree Deakins, a firm that shaped the foundation of my career and where I know I can continue to deliver exceptional results for clients,” Daniel said. “Through co-founding my own practice and coaching dozens of attorneys, I’ve gained a deep understanding of the real-world challenges employers face every day. I look forward to channeling that experience into delivering the proactive,  results-driven counsel that sets Ogletree Deakins apart and that our clients expect and deserve.”

Daniel earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center and earned his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with honors and as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

Daniel’s arrival is part of a growing trend of shareholders returning to the firm after stints elsewhere, including Paul Rinnan in Houston, Harold Jones in San Francisco, Jennifer Santa Maria in San Diego, Frank Birchfield in New York, Michael Nacchio in Morristown, NJ, and Sara Olschewske in Greenville, SC—all of whom have returned since the start of 2025.

About Ogletree Deakins
With more than 1,100 attorneys in 60 offices worldwide, Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management. We handle all types of employment-related legal matters, including traditional labor and employment, workplace safety, employee benefits, and business immigration matters. Guided by our Client Pledge, we focus on understanding clients’ business and objectives, collaborating and anticipating needs, harnessing technology and innovation, communicating effectively, and providing quality representation with exceptional value. www.ogletree.com