IEL Elite

Overview

Specialist employment firm Ogletree Deakins boasts extensive international coverage through its 54 offices in Canada, Germany, France, Mexico, UK, US Virgin Islands, and across the US.

Key names at the firm include managing shareholder C Matthew Keen, based in Raleigh, as well as managing directors Liz S Washko in Nashville, John Gerak in Cleveland, and Simon J McMenemy – managing partner of the London office.

Other notable names at the firm include Carolyn Knox in San Francisco, and Ulrike Conradi in Berlin, who were singled out in IEL’s 2022 Women Leaders survey.

The firm in January 2022 promoted more than 20 members to partner across its US and in Paris offices.

Specialisms

The team assists with the full gamut of workplace issues, from advisory and transactional matters through to representation in disputes. This spans advice on background checks, data privacy, D&I, pay equity, unfair competition, whistleblower claims, and affirmative action.

On the contentious side, the firm supports with litigation and alternative forms of dispute resolution, as well as during the appeals stage. In particular, the team offers dedicated practice groups that handle class actions – from those relating to age discrimination, through to specialists in Californian wage and hour claims.

Separately, the workplace investigations practice group is able to deftly take on sensitive matters relating to a wide array of allegations, including bullying and harassment, discrimination, and theft.

The firm also boasts considerable strength in employee benefits and compensation, and has a dedicated ERISA litigation group. Its expertise includes executive compensation arrangements, welfare and fringe benefits programmes, and health savings accounts plans.

In addition, experts at the firm are well-versed in supporting companies subject to audits or investigations by the authorities.

Industrial relations experts at the firm are well placed to advise on all labour law issues, including in collective bargaining negotiations, strike announcements, and disputes before the US National Labor Relations Board.

A further area of prowess is in health and safety. Team members regularly advise on policy development, compliance, investigations into workplace accidents, OSHA inspections, audits, and litigation.

Also of note, M Tae Phillips, a partner in Birmingham, Alabama, is an expert on workplace-related marijuana issues.

Additionally, the team is able to support with strategic corporation operations, such as restructuring or M&A.

Other key names  

Experts based in…

Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States, and the US Virgin Islands.