Prominent Milwaukee attorneys Bernard (Bud) Bobber and David Froiland have departed Foley & Lardner LLP to join Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C., effective Jan. 4.
Atlanta-based Ogletree, which is one of the largest management-side labor and employment law firms in the country, opened its Milwaukee office just a year ago and now has 10 attorneys. The firm, which has 750 attorneys nationwide, described the addition of Bobber and Froiland as a way to enhance its Midwest capabilities. The pair previously practiced in Milwaukee-based Foley’s Labor & Employment Practice Group.
“The addition of Bud and David to our already deep bench of talented lawyers cements our firm as a leading labor and employment practice in Wisconsin,” said Tim Costello, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Milwaukee office. “Bud and David are two of the most-accomplished and well-recognized labor and employment attorneys in Wisconsin, and we are excited to welcome them to our firm.”
Bobber was vice chair of Foley’s national Labor & Employment Practice and co-chair of its Trade Secret/Noncompete Practice. He has more than 25 years of experience representing employers before federal and state courts and administrative agencies nationwide. Among his specialties are traditional labor, wage and hour, noncompete, employee benefits litigation and employment discrimination. He has significant experience with defense of class action cases, as well as labor arbitrations and unfair labor practice proceedings brought before the National Labor Relations Board. Bobber also counsels employers on labor and employment topics, including avoiding litigation, and assembles employment agreements and company policies. He holds a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and was named the Best Lawyers 2015 Milwaukee Employment Law-Management Lawyer of the Year.
When Ogletree asked if Bobber would like to bring along any phenomenal attorneys, he thought first of Froiland, Bobber said.
“David Froiland was my favorite person at Foley & Lardner and that really says a lot because I had some, and still maintain some, very dear friendships,” Bobber said. “I spent almost 27 years there and I had a lot of law firm roles that put me in contact with people. When I was exploring the possibility of moving to Ogletree, David was the only one I shared it with.”
“I am very grateful for and excited about the opportunity to practice law as a shareholder of Ogletree Deakins. The firm’s record of client service and achieving superb results is outstanding. And I was especially excited to find at Ogletree Deakins a law firm culture of collegiality and teamwork that fits my values so well,” he said. “I can tell you from 26 years of experience at Foley & Lardner that Foley is the premier, general practice corporate law firm in Wisconsin, and one of the very best in the country. But when it comes to labor and employment law, Ogletree Deakins is at the pinnacle of that practice. I cannot wait to bring its resources and its depth of talent and experience to the service of my clients.”
“The marketplace changes and these days, change is at a pace faster than ever,” Bobber said. “In my area of law, labor and employment law, the model reflected by Ogletree of a broad platform present in many locations where clients are has really proven to be … and the lower overhead cost structure, has proven to be the right platform for labor and employment work. General corporate practice firms like Foley can’t replicate that.”
Froiland has 17 years of experience representing employers in employment law issues before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. Among his specialties are employment discrimination, age discrimination in Employment Act collective action claims and reductions in force. He also advises employers on plant closings, harassment issues, disability accommodation, problematic terminations and other employer workplace concerns. Froiland has also represented employers in arbitrations, campaigns and labor negotiations. He holds a J.D. from Indiana University, and is active in the community as a member on the boards of the Urban Ecology Center and the Alma Center.
As a result of its addition of the prominent attorneys, Ogletree expects to add more staff in Milwaukee to meet increased client demand “in the near future.”
“We’re actively looking for the best talent in the market at all levels,” Bobber said. However, he said it’s too soon to say how many additional attorneys will be added.
