Labor & Employment
USA Guide 2024 : North Carolina
Band 1
Contact number
+1 919 787 9700About
Provided by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC
Unlike many firms, our labor and employment practice covers the full array of issues affecting the work environment, including workplace safety, immigration, employee benefits, and executive compensation, in addition to more common areas like discrimination, retaliation, harassment, non-competition and non-solicitation, wage/hour, union avoidance, union campaigns, and collective bargaining. Distinctive features of our practice are our trial-litigation focus and our immigration group. Our office regularly conducts jury trials, arbitrations and appears in court. As a testament to our local strength of client base, skill and reputation, our North Carolina lawyers are often asked by client to handle litigation outside of the typical labor and employment box.
Specialty law firms are the dominant players in the labor and employment law arena. In the North Carolina market, we are the only labor and employment law firm with two offices: Raleigh and Charlotte. Since opening our first North Carolina office in 1981, we have built our North Carolina practice by steady internal growth – training new lawyers and allowing them to succeed.
Chambers Review
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart remains a popular choice for clients seeking standout employment litigation ability, with noted experience in matters such as trade secrets, employment termination and civil rights cases before state and federal bodies. The firm is noted for its strength in the labor law space, handling matters such as union avoidance and collective bargaining. Clients also benefit from the team's expertise in employee benefits and wage and hour issues.
Work Highlights
- Ogletree Deakins represented Sampson County, North Carolina, in a lawsuit brought by more than 30 deputy sheriffs alleging claims for failure to properly pay wages under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the North Carolina Constitution.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Ogletree is competent, knowledgeable and reliable. They provide excellent legal support at a competitive price."
"Ogletree has very competent and skilled labor attorneys. I have found their counsel to be pragmatic and flexible."
"Ogletree has a very broad and deep bench of attorneys with expertise in any employment-related matter I have ever posed to the firm."
"Ogletree is competent, knowledgeable and reliable. They provide excellent legal support at a competitive price."
"Ogletree has very competent and skilled labor attorneys. I have found their counsel to be pragmatic and flexible."
"Ogletree has a very broad and deep bench of attorneys with expertise in any employment-related matter I have ever posed to the firm."
Notable Practitioners
Managing shareholder Matthew Keen comes highly recommended for his expert employment litigation practice. His caseload includes defending against high-value discrimination claims, as well as trade secrets and workplace injury mandates. He is also experienced in NLRB proceedings.
"He's terrific and has served our company well!"
Robert Sar is an experienced practitioner in both employment disputes and traditional labor law mandates. He acts for clients from regulated industries such as healthcare, and also for those in the technology, retail and hospitality sectors.
"Robert is excellent and very thorough."
"Robert applies a very practical yet sophisticated approach to resolving legal matters."
Kelly Hughes has a broad practice that sees her act for clients on a range of employment issues. She is noted for her expertise on workplace flexibility matters.
"Kelly is fantastic and always gets back to me right away."
"She is excellent."
Michael McKnight has notable experience in employment disputes, including arbitration, as well as OSHA work.
"Michael is excellent; he is always responsive and knows our business well."
"He has effective and quick responses. He provides solid counsel, resulting in positive outcomes for the organization, and has an ability to translate complicated legal matters into simple language."
Ranked Lawyers at
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC
North Carolina
Members
Provided by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC
Industries
Provided by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC
Aerospace & Defence
Automobiles & Parts
Construction & Materials
Consumer Product Manufacturing
Education
Financial Services
Food & Drink Producers
Forestry & Paper
Government
Health Care
Retail
Software & Computer Services
Technology, Hardware & Electronics
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