ATLANTA – February 5, 2014 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that Gregg Lemley, a shareholder in the firm’s St. Louis office, and Ted Speth, a shareholder in the firm’s Columbia office, have been selected as 2014 Client Service All-Stars by the BTI Consulting Group. The BTI Client Service All-Stars are an elite group of attorneys nominated exclusively by corporate counsel in BTI’s independent study as the leaders of client service excellence. This year, BTI interviewed nearly 300 corporate counsel from large and Fortune 1000 companies to probe all aspects of client relationships. Responses from those interviews found that client focus, innovative thought leader, exceptional understanding of the client’s business, legal skills, outsized value, and outstanding results were among the attributes that make for exceptional client service.
Lemley has nearly 20 years of experience with labor and employment law and related litigation. Lemley concentrates his practice primarily in the litigation of employment-related disputes and employer counseling. He has represented employers in a wide range of litigation matters in both state and federal courts, and before arbitrators, administrative law judges, and other tribunals. Lemley also has extensive experience representing clients in class and collective action wage and hour claims brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage laws.
Lemley has been recognized throughout his career for his achievements. Lemley has been named as one of the top labor and employment lawyers in Missouri by Chambers USA, and has been included among The Best Lawyers in America and Missouri Super Lawyers. Lemley earned his J.D. from Washington University in 1995
Speth, who was also named to the 2010 BTI Client Service All-Stars list in 2010, has more than 30 years of experience with employment-related litigation in state and federal courts throughout the United States. He devotes a significant amount of time to the representation of clients in class action litigation and also provides training and preventive advice to employers in an effort to resolve potential employment-related legal matters before the matters escalate into legal actions.
Speth has also been highly praised for his accomplishments. Speth was named by Best Lawyers® as the 2014 Columbia-SC Employment Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year,” as well as the 2013 Columbia-SC Litigation – Labor & Employment “Lawyer of the Year.” He has earned a Band 1 ranking from Chambers USA, been named among the “South Carolina Midlands Legal Elite,” and is included among the South Carolina Super Lawyers. Speth earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1979.
About Ogletree Deakins
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. The firm has 700 lawyers located in 45 offices across the United States and in Europe. Ogletree Deakins is the “Law Firm of the Year” in both the Employment Law – Management and Labor Law – Management categories in the 2014 edition of the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list. In addition to handling labor and employment law matters, the firm has thriving practices focused on business immigration, employee benefits, and workplace safety and health law. Ogletree Deakins represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies. www.ogletreedeakins.com