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Ogletree Deakins

Labor and employment law for management

Overview

Ogletree Deakins is a large law firm that specializes in labor and employment law for employers. It helps with issues such as discrimination, hiring, layoffs, benefits, immigration, safety, and related disputes, and it drafts policies, advises clients, and represents them in court or negotiations. The firm combines its core practice with related areas to offer a full range of employment legal support and has offices across the United States, Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Its goal is to provide clear, strategic, and responsive guidance that helps clients run compliant, smoothly operating businesses.

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About Ogletree Deakins

Simplify's Rating
Why Ogletree Deakins is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

ConsultingLegal

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Greer, South Carolina

Founded

1977

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • September 2026 Monterrey opens a fresh Mexico growth engine for multinational employers.
  • Twenty 2026 shareholder additions, including Los Angeles and San Antonio, strengthen market coverage.
  • Will Lopez's September 24, 2026 general-counsel hire tightens intake, conflicts, and AI procurement.

What critics are saying

  • Growth depends on lateral raiding from Littler, Jackson Lewis, and FordHarrison in 2026.
  • Employment work brings constant conflict risk; ADT bias fights show costly disqualification battles.
  • A privacy or AI-governance failure would damage its compliance brand within months.

What makes Ogletree Deakins unique

  • Ogletree Deakins dominates management-side labor and employment, with 1,100 attorneys across 61 offices.
  • It pairs litigation depth with cross-border coverage through Mexico City and new Monterrey.
  • ISO 42001 certification and DepoSim show rare, audited AI governance and training discipline.

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Company News

Littler
Oct 9th, 2026
Littler continues Nevada expansion with addition of Cayla Witty.

Littler continues Nevada expansion with addition of Cayla Witty. LAS VEGAS (October 9, 2026) - Littler, the world's largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has continued the strategic expansion of its Las Vegas office with the addition of Cayla Witty as special counsel. Her arrival follows the recent addition of Shareholder Suzanne Martin and reflects the firm's continued investment in Nevada. With Witty joining the team, Littler further strengthens its experience and capabilities in the market, advancing its broader growth strategy throughout the Western U.S. Joining from Ogletree Deakins, Witty brings more than a decade of experience advising employers on a broad range of labor and employment matters, including workplace investigations, discrimination and harassment, performance management and employee handbook development. She also helps companies navigate ADA compliance, evaluate reasonable accommodation requests and manage disability-related workplace issues while mitigating legal risk. In addition, Witty regularly represents employers in litigation and appellate proceedings involving employment-related disputes. "The continued growth of our Las Vegas office reflects both the strength of the Nevada market and the trust clients place in our team," said Roger Grandgenett, Littler's Las Vegas office managing shareholder. "Following Suzanne's recent arrival, Cayla's addition further enhances our ability to support employers across the full spectrum of workplace issues. She combines practical, business-focused counseling with extensive litigation and appellate experience, making her a valuable resource for clients and a terrific addition to our office." Witty began her legal career representing plaintiffs then served as a staff attorney for the Nevada Court of Appeals. She later ran her own HR consulting business where she worked on benefits management, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) issues and paid family leave insurance. As a SHRM-SCP-certified professional, she brings a unique perspective that bridges legal strategy and human resources, allowing her to help employers navigate workplace challenges with both practical and legal insight. "Many workplace challenges are best addressed before they escalate into disputes," said Witty. "My litigation and appellate experience gives me valuable perspective on risk, while my counseling practice focuses on helping employers address issues proactively and effectively. I'm excited to join Littler's Nevada team and help clients navigate an increasingly complex workplace environment." Witty is a member of the Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys as well as the Howard D. McKibben Chapter of the American Inns of Court. In addition to her legal practice, she volunteers her time to Dress for Success of Southern Nevada. Witty earned her J.D. from the William S. Boyd School of Law, magna cum laude and earned her B.F.A. from the University of Kansas. About Littler With more than 2,000 labor and employment attorneys in offices around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our global team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers for what's happening today, and what's likely to happen tomorrow. Share Insight

Ogletree Deakins
Sep 24th, 2026
General counsel Will Lopez shares about new role at Ogletree Deakins.

General counsel Will Lopez shares about new role at Ogletree Deakins. September 24, 2026 | News Will Lopez joined Ogletree Deakins as general counsel, based in the New York office, serving as the firm's chief in-house legal and ethics officer. Lopez joins after serving other Big Law firms as deputy general counsel for nearly a decade, and now leads a cross-functional team responsible for new business intake, records, docketing, conflicts, engagement letters, claims management, discovery, subpoenas, and privacy matters. He also advises on large-contract procurement strategies, including AI-related agreements. When asked about his reasons for joining the firm, Lopez stated that he "was drawn to Ogletree because of its stellar reputation for quality work, innovation and deep commitment to professionalism," as reported by Law360. A subscription may be required to view the article. Read the Law360 article here.

Ogletree Deakins
Sep 24th, 2026
Ogletree Deakins earns top marks for legal service excellence in Chambers Canada 2027 Guide.

Ogletree Deakins earns top marks for legal service excellence in Chambers Canada 2027 Guide. CALGARY, Alberta - September 24, 2026 - Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that the firm's Calgary office has been recognized by Chambers and Partners in its Chambers Canada 2027 Guide. In addition, Calgary office managing partner Shana Wolch, Calgary partner Justin Turc, and Toronto office managing partner Kathryn Bird are recognized in this year's guide. Ogletree Deakins is noted as a Leading Firm in Canada for 2027 and is ranked Band 4 in the guide's Employment & Labour category in Alberta for the second consecutive year. Wolch, Turc, and Bird are once again ranked in the Employment & Labour category of their respective geographic regions as well. "This recognition reflects the quality of service our attorneys deliver to employers across Canada every day," said Shana Wolch, office managing partner in Calgary. "Earning recognition in consecutive years speaks to how consistently our team delivers for each client we serve." Chambers Canada rankings are independently determined through thousands of client and peer interviews assessing technical legal ability, professional conduct, and client service. About Ogletree Deakins With more than 1,100 attorneys in 61 offices worldwide, Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management. Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group handle all types of employment-related legal matters, including traditional labor and employment, workplace safety, employee benefits, and business immigration matters. Guided by its Client Pledge, Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group 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

Ogletree Deakins
Sep 23rd, 2026
Ogletree Deakins launches firmwide AI deposition training program with AltaClaro's DepoSim.

Ogletree Deakins launches firmwide AI deposition training program with AltaClaro's DepoSim. ATLANTA - September 23, 2026 - Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce the firmwide adoption of DepoSim, an AI-powered deposition simulation platform developed by AltaClaro in partnership with Verbit. The firmwide rollout follows a successful pilot program in which Ogletree Deakins attorneys at varying levels tested DepoSim and reported overwhelmingly positive feedback. Building on that momentum, the firm is now making the platform available to litigators across its national footprint as part of a broader investment in attorney development and scalable learning. "One of our priorities is providing attorneys across the firm with consistent access to high-quality learning experiences. By incorporating AI-powered deposition simulations into our training, we're creating more opportunities for attorneys to practice, receive feedback, and strengthen their skills before they step into a real deposition," said Kelly Druten Green, Director of Attorney Development at Ogletree Deakins. DepoSim gives attorneys live, hands-on opportunities to practice conducting oral depositions in realistic, simulated litigation scenarios. By combining rubric-based artificial intelligence with scenario-based learning, the platform delivers immediate, actionable feedback to help litigators refine questioning strategies, improve witness control, and strengthen overall deposition performance, regardless of their location. DepoSim includes simulation case files across various practice areas, including those within labor and employment. "One of the greatest challenges in legal training is giving every attorney enough meaningful practice and feedback before they're sitting across from a real witness," said Abdi Shayesteh, Founder & CEO of AltaClaro. "Ogletree Deakins is showing what's possible when AI is used safely in a guard-railed environment to make high-quality experiential learning scalable across one of the world's largest employment law firms." For Ogletree Deakins, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to scale, consistency, and investment in talent. By deploying DepoSim across its entire litigation platform, the firm is ensuring that attorneys, regardless of location or level, receive a consistent learning experience and the same high-quality, client-service-focused training. The result is a growing bench of practice-ready attorneys equipped to handle complex employment litigation with confidence. DepoSim was developed by AltaClaro in partnership with Verbit, a leader in verbal intelligence solutions, to closely mirror real-world deposition dynamics. About Ogletree Deakins With more than 1,100 attorneys in 61 offices worldwide, Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management. Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group handle all types of employment-related legal matters, including traditional labor and employment, workplace safety, employee benefits, and business immigration matters. Guided by its Client Pledge, Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group 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 About AltaClaro AltaClaro is the pioneer and global leader in data-driven experiential legal training, helping law firms, legal departments, and law schools develop practice-ready lawyers. Through simulation-based courses, AI-powered feedback, and immersive learning tools grounded in its "Learn. Do. Review." methodology, AltaClaro turns theoretical knowledge into practical skill across more than 60 courses spanning transactional, litigation, and Generative AI practice areas. Its platform includes Benchmark360, which delivers AI-powered feedback on simulated written work product, and DepoSim, the first AI-powered deposition simulator for lawyers. AltaClaro is a recipient of the 2025 ALM Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Award for Best Tech Training Provider and serves leading Am Law firms, in-house legal teams, and law schools training the next generation of attorneys. www.altaclaro.com About Verbit Verbit is a global leader in verbal intelligence, delivering AI-powered transcription, speech analytics, and language technologies designed for the most demanding professional environments. Trusted by courts, attorneys, law firms, and legal departments worldwide, Verbit's solutions combine advanced artificial intelligence with legal domain-specific expertise to support litigation, depositions, hearings, and complex legal workflows where accuracy, security, and speed are critical. www.verbit.ai

International Employment Lawyer
Sep 15th, 2026
Continue reading international employment lawyer.

Continue reading international employment lawyer. * community. Ogletree continues West Coast growth with Jackson Lewis shareholder New shareholder Donald Sullivan brings nearly 30 years' experience in litigation, employee benefits, and ERISA matters IEL Reporter Tuesday 15 September 2026 Ogletree Deakins has strengthened its San Francisco team with the appointment of Donald Sullivan as a shareholder from Jackson Lewis. Get access. Enter your email address. Enter the password that accompanies your email address. Need access? Find out how to enjoy unlimited access

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