Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C issued the following announcement on Aug. 23.
Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, welcomes Martha Casillas as Of Counsel resident in its Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group based in the firm’s Orange County office. Martha served as counsel for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) prior to joining Ogletree Deakins. Martha’s arrival highlights the rapid growth of Ogletree Deakins’ Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group and Cal/OSHA prowess, with former Cal/OSHA judge Ursula Clemons joining as Special Counsel earlier this year.
Martha has extensive experience in the interpretation and enforcement of Cal/OSHA safety orders through administrative hearings and appeals, and in providing reviews of proposed legislation to the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. She has advised across a host of industries including construction, healthcare, manufacturing, roofing, transportation, agriculture, landscaping, restaurants, and hospitality. Martha has an invaluable background handling contested cases involving workplace accidents, serious injuries, and fatalities. In having represented private employers and public agencies, she has developed a unique perspective on workplace safety enforcement, litigation, and settlement negotiation.
“In welcoming Martha, Ogletree Deakins continues to raise the bar and exceed industry expectations as we grow our OSH representation and add stellar talent to our Workplace Health and Safety Practice Group,” said Eric Hobbs, chair of the Workplace Health and Safety practice group.
Ogletree Deakins’ Workplace Safety and Health attorneys are highly experienced and adept in counseling clients to ensure OSHA compliance, provide advice on best practices to formulate and enhance safety and health programs, and conduct safety and health audits. The practice group attorneys engage in a nationwide practice that includes the representation of employers in egregious OSHA cases before the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, corresponding OSHA state-plan adjudicatory agencies, and appellate courts.
In addition to her years of experience litigating before the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (OSHAB), Martha also has successfully handled disputes before the State Personnel Board (SPB), Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), and Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).
Martha earned her J.D. from the UCLA School of Law and her B.A, cum laude, from Harvard College.
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