Ogletree Deakins celebrates 40th anniversary
February 13, 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 with 800 attorneys in 51 offices across the United States, as well as in Toronto, Mexico City, St. Thomas, USVI, London, Berlin, and Paris.
With nearly 40 attorneys based in the firm’s downtown Greenville office, Greenville remains one of Ogletree Deakins’ largest offices. Greenville has also continued to serve as the firm’s administrative headquarters. The Greenville administrative office houses more than 200 employees who handle most of the firm’s administrative duties, including the firm’s Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Technology, and Director of Human Resources.
“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, a 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.”
Out of the original 16 attorneys, Lewis Smoak, Gray Geddie, Fred Suggs, and Baker Wyche, continue to practice in the Greenville Office. Last year, the firm was saddened by the passing of Jimmie Stewart, also one of the original founders of the firm and a Greenville resident.
Ogletree Deakins
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Ogletree Deakins’ commitment to client service has been repeatedly recognized by legal industry consultants, 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, received the Excellence for Diversity Award from the Greenville Chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management, 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.
