In recent days, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C announced the addition of a group of attorneys to the firm’s Minneapolis office.
The attorneys join from Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren Ltd.. Bruce Douglas joins as a shareholder. Chris Heffelbower joins as of counsel and Ashlee Bekish as an associate. Their addition both strengthens the firm’s presence in the upper Midwest and the labor relations and litigation practice.
Douglas is certified as a Specialist in Labor and Employment Law by the Minnesota State Bar Association. His focuses his practice on matters related to traditional labor relations, class action litigation, and single plaintiff litigation.
Shareholder Cynthia Bremer was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Since opening last year, our office continues to see positive growth driven by client demand. This addition is a big plus for clients as they will benefit from the collective and comprehensive experience Bruce and the group will bring to employers in Minnesota and throughout the country.”
With over 25 years of traditional labor relations experience handling matters under the National Labor Relations Act, Douglas represents management before the National Labor Relations Board and has significant experience in representation cases and unfair labor practice cases. He is also experienced in drafting and negotiating collective bargaining agreements and conducting arbitrations under such agreements. He also advises employers in union organizing campaigns and related matters.
Throughout his career, Douglas has defended and counseled employers in a broad variety of industries, including business process outsourcing, lodging, insurance, finance, communications, temporary personnel, security, manufacturing, transportation and health care. His litigation experience includes representing employers around the country. He has significant experience with collective actions brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act and class actions brought under Title VII.
Douglas has also tried cases in matters relating to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, unfair competition and trade secrets, and wrongful discharge. He also represents employers in matters under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and in other federal whistleblower cases investigated by Occupational Safety and Health Administration or the Department of Labor.
Aside from his litigation practice, Douglas provides advice to management regarding Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance and investigations. He also conducts training for managers and supervisors regarding employee discipline, harassment, and equal employment opportunity matters.
Heffelbower is a litigator experienced in wage and hour matters and proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Bekish is experienced in matters regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and has assisted with traditional labor law cases.
The firm also recently announced the addition of Mark Kisicki and Thomas Stanek to its Phoenix office, where both joined as shareholders.
Ogletree Deakins is the nation’s third-largest labor and employment law firm, with over 600 lawyers in 40 offices from Miami to Los Angeles. The firm represents management in all types of employment-related legal matters.