Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, will be opening its 55th office in Fresno.

This will be the seventh firm in the state for the company, with James D. Miller from local law firm RAIMONDO | MILLER serving as the office’s managing shareholder.

Additional founding members of the office include shareholders Ryan Porte and Kevin Piercy, and associates Timothy Hastie and Taylor Ealand, all from RAIMONDO | MILLER.

Miller is a seasoned trial attorney with a legal career spanning 25 years, focusing on employment litigation, including class and representative actions and traditional labor. Additionally, the Fresno native has experience in the agriculture and dairy industry, both on the farmer/grower side and farm labor contracting defense.

“Ogletree Deakins has a national platform of excellent attorneys with a reputation for delivering unparalleled client service. Our culture aligns with the firm’s core values, and I am thrilled to lead the charge into Fresno,” said Miller. “We are poised to make an immediate and impactful entrance.”

Porte, who served as an officer in the United States Army, has a practice focusing on counseling and defending employers in class and representative actions and single plaintiff employment disputes.

Piercy is an experienced litigator, including significant experience in class and representative actions. Piercy is also a veteran who served in the military as an interrogator.

“California employers continue to face challenges in complying with growing employment-related obligations, as well as increasing litigation. Fresno serves as a central point for the state, and our new office there allows us to better serve our clients’ California needs,” said Liz Washko, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins. “We are confident that James, Ryan, and Kevin’s deep litigation experience, high standards for client service, and intimate knowledge of the local business landscape make them the right fit to lead our entry into Fresno.”

The Fresno office is expected to bolster the bench strength that Ogletree Deakins has built across the state, which includes more than 160 attorneys in Los Angeles, Orange County, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, and Torrance.

The office is located at 7060 N. Marks Ave., Suite 108, in Fresno.