Ogletree Deakins Bolsters Kansas City Bench with Arrival of Employment Litigator Nicholas Ruble as Shareholder

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – August 3, 2026 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Ruble to the firm’s Kansas City office as a shareholder. Ruble joins Ogletree Deakins from Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, where he was a member and vice-chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor Practice Group.

Ruble’s practice focuses on employment litigation and traditional labor, drawing on more than a decade of experience in both areas. He represents employers at every stage of litigation and alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, and provides counsel on workplace policies. Ruble brings first-chair trial experience and leads collective bargaining and labor arbitration work, having provided representation before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

“Nick’s arrival strengthens our Kansas City office in exactly the areas our clients need most right now: first-chair litigation experience and collective bargaining knowledge,” said Michael Matula, office managing shareholder in Kansas City. “He has represented a diverse set of clients in litigation, arbitration, and in federal agency proceedings throughout his career, and that range of experience is exactly what our clients are looking for as they face more contested labor and employment matters.”

Ruble represents companies of all sizes across numerous industries, including banking, construction, insurance, retail, and more. He is a legal thought leader who regularly speaks and contributes to local and national publications and business groups on emerging labor and employment issues while mentoring the next generation of young attorneys.

“Ogletree Deakins provides attorneys with the resources to serve clients across every stage of the employer relationship, from strategy and policy work through hearings and trial,” said Ruble. “That range, combined with the firm’s national reach, is what drew me here. I’m looking forward to putting my labor and employment litigation experience to work for our clients alongside my new colleagues.”

Ruble earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and his B.A. from William Jewell College. He is active in the local business community, serving as Legislative Updates Vice-Chair for the Employment and Labor Law Committee at DRI (Association of Lawyers Defending Businesses) and as co-chair of the Labor and Employment Law Committee at the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.

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