GREENVILLE, S.C. – February 14, 2017 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, celebrates its 40th anniversary today. The firm was founded on February 14, 1977, with a group of 16 attorneys, based in Greenville and Atlanta, committed to providing clients with outstanding service and exceptional value. In the 40 years since Ogletree Deakins first opened its doors as a Southeastern-based firm, it has grown to an international firm that includes more than 800 attorneys in 51 offices across the United States and in Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
“When we founded the firm in 1977, we established a set of values that we believe are the intangible qualities of success,” said Lewis Smoak, founding shareholder of Ogletree Deakins. “When I think back on the past 40 years, I am most proud that our culture and these essential values have endured. We are as committed as ever to our original principles, which include the highest ethical standards, integrity, teamwork, and client service.”
Ogletree Deakins’ commitment to client service has been repeatedly recognized by legal industry consultants and high-profile media, including The BTI Consulting Group and Client Choice, and the firm has been named a “Law Firm of the Year” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® for six years in a row. The firm is also often lauded for its dedication to diversity and inclusion. In 2016, Ogletree Deakins was named the Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award® recipient for its commitment to supporting, developing, and honoring women leaders, and was presented the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Workplace Diversity Award. The firm has also been recognized as the number one law firm for African-American attorneys and among the top 10 firms in BigLaw for female attorneys by prominent legal news publication Law360. It earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT equality.
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. U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for six consecutive years. In 2017, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Labor Law – Management category. Ogletree Deakins has 800 attorneys located in 51 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies.