Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, and Stewart PC
No. of offices55
No. of attorneys975+
Major practice areasLabor and employment law
Revenue US$585.2 million (2022)
Date founded1977
FounderPeter Nash
Lewis Smoak
Homer Deakins
Company typeProfessional corporation
Websiteogletree.com

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC (abbreviated as Ogletree Deakins)[1] is an American multinational law firm specializing in labor and employment law.[2]

Founded on February 14, 1977,[3][4] Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest law firms in the world by revenue.[3][5] Ogletree Deakins is the second-largest labor and employment firm in the United States.[4]

History and practice

Founded in 1977, the firm began as a regional firm operating in the Southeastern United States before gradually expanding domestically. The firm opened its first international office in Berlin, Germany in 2012.[3]

Trade unions

Eastern Air Lines

The firm advised the now-defunct Eastern Air Lines on negotiations with trade unions during strikes by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Transport Workers Union of America, and the Airline Pilots Association.[3] Eastern Airlines didn't follow the advice, cracking down on the unions and ultimately leading to the bankruptcy and liquidation of Eastern Airlines.[6]

Nissan

Ogletree Deakins advised Nissan during prolonged unionization efforts by United Auto Workers from 1989 to 2001.[3][7]

Racial discrimination

Ogletree Deakins represents Hillcrest Country Club in an ongoing [8] lawsuit alleging racial discrimination.[9] Matthew Winnick, son of deceased billionaire Gary Winnick, alleges he was denied entrance to the club due to his wife's Hispanic heritage.[9][10] Ogletree attorney Lyne Richardson, representing Hillcrest, denies the allegations, calling them "entirely without merit."[9]

Controversies

Union busting

The firm has been accused of union busting on behalf of its multinational clients.[11][12][13] The American Civil Liberties Union hired Ogletree Deakins in 2020 to advise when its Kansas affiliate attempted to unionize, causing uproar among the advocacy group's supporters.[13] Ogletree denies that the firm busts unions.[13]

Controversial longtime Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, Joe Arpaio has called Ogletree his "favorite law firm."[13]

References

  1. ^ "About Us". Ogletree. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC". chambers.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Four decades in, Ogletree Deakins is No. 2 in its field". UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL. June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Ogletree Deakins Celebrates 40th Anniversary". Ogletree. February 14, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "The 2022 Global 100 Ranked by Profits Per Equity Partner". Law.com International. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Weiss, Lawrence; Wruck, Karen (November 8, 1997). "Information Problems, Conflicts of Interest, and Asset Stripping: Chapter 11's Failure in the Case of Eastern Airlines" (PDF). Journal of Financial Economics. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Schiffman, Barry (March 3, 1991). "Tougher Tactics to Keep Out Unions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  8. ^ "MATTHEW WINNICK VS HILLCREST COUNTRY CLUB, ET AL". UniCourt. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Winton, Richard (March 14, 2024). "Billionaire L.A. family claims racism at elite Westside country club". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Roeloffs, Mary Whitfill. "Hillcrest—Famous Golf Club Attended By Ex-Presidents And Hollywood Elite—Sued For Racial Discrimination". Forbes. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "USA: Several companies accused of hiring 'labour-busting' law firms & consultants to undermine unionisation efforts among workers". Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Logan, John (August 24, 2020). "The labor-busting law firms and consultants that keep Google, Amazon and other workplaces union-free". The Conversation. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d "ACLU Accused of 'Union Busting' by Hiring Ogletree Deakins". Law & Crime. July 3, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2024.