Department profile
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC

Labor & Employment

USA Guide 2026 : Missouri: St Louis & Surrounds

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Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC

Rankings

About

Provided by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC

With more than 1,100 attorneys in 60 offices worldwide, Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management. We handle all types of employment-related legal matters, including traditional labor and employment, workplace safety, employee benefits, and business immigration matters. Guided by our Client Pledge, we focus on understanding clients’ business and objectives, collaborating and anticipating needs, harnessing technology and innovation, communicating effectively, and providing quality representation with exceptional value.

Industries (20)

  • Banks
  • Chemicals
  • Commercial & Professional Services
  • Construction & Materials
  • Consumer Product Manufacturing
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Financial Services
  • Food & Drink Producers
  • Forestry & Paper
  • Health Care
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Insurance
  • Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
  • Retail
  • Software & Computer Services
  • Sports
  • Technology, Hardware & Electronics
  • Telecommunications
  • Transportation

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Labor & Employment - Missouri: St Louis & Surrounds

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC offers national labor and employment specialists within a broad practice active on major class action lawsuits, trade secrets violations and business reorganization. It provides strong coverage from both its St. Louis and Kansas City offices in matters pertaining to FLSA and MHRA disputes, such as retaliation and single-plaintiff discrimination cases, and regularly assists clients with workforce reduction and employee management issues.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC represented Gray Media in a lawsuit filed by a former on-air meteorologist who alleged age, disability and gender discrimination, as well as retaliation.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Ogletree has a well-versed team that can handle virtually any labor and employment issue. It is very responsive to our needs and achieves great results.

    Labor & Employment respondentUSA

  • The firm has superb litigation lawyers as well as a top-notch appellate specialists.

    Labor & Employment respondentUSA

  • The team provides strong support and practical, focused solutions.

    Labor & Employment respondentUSA

  • Ogletree has subject matter experts across all specialties of employment law.

    Labor & Employment respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • James M Paul
    James M Paul

    James M Paul

    James Paul is based in St. Louis and has a broad labor and employment practice that includes discrimination and retaliation matters. He regularly handles cases before state and federal courts and administrative bodies, as well as appellate cases.

    • James Paul is very responsive and understands our business model.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA
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  • Gregg M Lemley
    Gregg M Lemley

    Gregg M Lemley

    Gregg Lemley is recognized as a strong choice for employers seeking labor and employment counsel. His broad practice encompasses retaliation, discrimination, wrongful discharge and breach of contract matters. Gregg is based in the firm's St. Louis office.

    • Gregg Lemley is incredibly responsive and solution-oriented.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • Gregg is a knowledgeable person and has very deep expertise. He is fabulous.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • Gregg is responsive, provides great client service and is a superb communicator.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA
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  • Patrick F Hulla
    Patrick F Hulla

    Patrick F Hulla

    Kansas City-based Patrick Hulla has significant experience advising his clients on collective class actions, including wage and hour cases. He represents major employers from industries such as retail and healthcare.

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  • Chris R Pace
    Chris R Pace

    Chris R Pace

    Chris Pace is based in the Kansas City office and has experience acting before both federal and state courts in a broad range of employment disputes. He has particular experience handling large-scale collective actions.

    • Chris Pace is the most responsive outside counsel I have ever worked with.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • Chris Pace is a phenomenal lawyer.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA
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  • Michael L. Matula
    Michael L. Matula

    Michael L. Matula

    Michael Matula is part of the Kansas City team and is renowned in the market for his trial skills. He typically advises clients in relation to employment litigation concerning harassment allegations, EEOC charges and restrictive covenants.

    • Michael is a very strong litigator.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA
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  • R. Lance Witcher
    R. Lance Witcher

    R. Lance Witcher

    Lance Witcher is highly commended for his work in employment litigation. He is based in St. Louis.
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  • Rodney A Harrison
    Rodney A Harrison

    Rodney A Harrison

    Rodney Harrison acts on a broad range of labor and employment matters and has expertise in class and collective actions. He is based in St. Louis.
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  • Kerri S. Reisdorff
    Kerri S. Reisdorff

    Kerri S. Reisdorff

    Kerri Reisdorff is known for her representation of management teams in complex labor and employment disputes. She is based in Kansas City.

    • Kerri knows our business, the law and the best ways to defend our company.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • Kerri's ability to immediately grasp our issues and streamline her vast knowledge down to clear, concise pieces of advice and instruction is amazing.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA
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  • Trina Ricketts
    Trina Ricketts

    Trina Ricketts

    Trina Ricketts displays strong expertise in labor and employment litigation. She frequently handles breach of contract claims and company reorganization matters.

    • Trina is strategic and on top of things.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA
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Ranked Individuals at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC (9)

Missouri: Kansas City & Surrounds

Missouri: St Louis & Surrounds

Members

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Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC has rankings in the following guides

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