
Overview
Susan focuses her practice on labor, employment, and OSHA compliance, defense, and crisis response. Susan’s practice includes comprehensive OSHA representation of employers across all industry sectors. Her OSHA practice includes compliance assistance, training, citation defense, participation in rulemaking, appellate administrative litigation, whistleblower cases, creation/oversight of PSM/RMP and general OSHA audit programs, and fatality/serious injury accident investigations. She has substantial experience guiding organizations through infectious disease outbreak response and related compliance with the myriad of applicable safety, labor, employment, and public health requirements.
Susan has over 30 years of experience representing employers in all other aspects of the employer-employee relationship as well, including discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, tort claims, contract claims, defamation, wrongful discharge, trade secret, covenants not to compete, duty of loyalty, wage/hour, retaliation, FMLA, ADA, and WARN Act. She has particularly broad experience regarding accommodation and leave issues, with a keen understanding of the interplay between federal/state family and medical leave laws, federal/state disability laws, state/local sick pay and paid family leave laws, OSHA, and workers’ compensation. Her experience extends to representation of employers with unionized workforces and includes collective bargaining, labor arbitration, and unfair labor practice matters and advice relating to contract compliance and grievance handling. She has handled numerous large and small reductions in force and voluntary retirement programs.
Susan conducts and oversees investigations following workplace accidents and infectious disease outbreak as part of her OSHA work. She also is a “go-to” lawyer for crises relating to allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation involving senior and executive leadership. She has a significant track record of meticulous and thoughtful investigative work.
Susan is admitted to practice in the Virginia state courts, Eastern and Western Federal District Courts of Virginia, District of Columbia Superior Court, District of Columbia Federal District Court, Federal District Court of Maryland, Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and US Supreme Court. She has represented employers in employment and/or OSHA/MSHA litigation in almost every state in the continental United States.
Experience
- Successfully defended national meat processing facility in COVID-19 workplace litigation, obtaining dismissal of federally filed lawsuit and defeating a request for injunctive relief.
- Develops and implements PSM/RMP and general occupational safety and health compliance audit programs for employers across all industry sectors.
- Participates in all aspects of OSHA rulemaking, including administrative litigation over final rules.
- Counsels employers regarding OSHA obligations and provides representation in citation contests. Substantial experience in significant injury, infectious disease, and fatality accident investigations.
- Assists companies with the preparation of emergency response plans to address infectious disease outbreaks and other natural and man-made disasters.
- Conducts investigations of allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, including those involving executive leadership and directors.
- Represents employers in lawsuits and agency proceedings in cases involving employment discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, employment torts, contract disputes, retaliation, reduction in force, FCRA, FLSA, FMLA, and wrongful discharge, including class action defense.
- Trains managers and employees on preventative practices to avoid employment litigation and OSHA citation.
- Counsels employers with respect to all facets of the employer/employee relationship, including discrimination and harassment issues, wage and hours issues, safety and health issues, covenants not to compete, and confidentiality agreements.
- Counsels companies regarding access and accommodation obligations under Title III of the ADA.
- Reviews and prepares employee handbooks, corporate policies and employment agreements.
- Represents unionized employer with respect to all aspects of collective bargaining relationship, including contract negotiation, contract interpretation, grievances, arbitration, defense of unfair labor practices, and litigation.
- Represents employers in state law unfair competition, trade secret and business tort cases.
- Provided MSHA advice, accident investigation, and citation defense for mining companies.
- Advice to and representation of federal contractors regarding their anti-discrimination, affirmative action, Davis-Bacon and other legal compliance issues. Preparation of affirmative action plans.
- Preparation, negotiation, and litigation of executive employment agreements.
Accolades
Honors & Recognitions
- Listed as a Litigation Star (2025) and a Labor and Employment Star (2020-2024), District of Columbia, Benchmark Litigation
- Recognized as a Leader in Occupational Safety and Health, USA-Nationwide, Chambers USA, 2022-2024
- Recognized among the 2022 Influential Women of Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly
- Recommended for Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense, Legal 500 United States, 2021
- Recognized as a Washington DC Trailblazer by The National Law Journal, 2020
- Runner Up, Litigator of the Week, American Lawyer, May 11, 2020
Affiliations
Professional
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- Member, American Bar Association
Insights
Legal Updates
- 21 Minute ReadAugust 2, 2024Legal Update
Events & Speaking Engagements
- Event
- Tuesday, October 29, 2024Event
- April 22, 2024EventPresenterHot Topics in Labor and Employment Law, National Diocesan Attorneys Association Annual Meeting
- April 4, 2024EventPresenterFrom Policy to Implementation: Navigating California Workplace Violence Prevention Compliance, Industry Trade Association
- March 25, 2024EventPresenterOSHA & Workplace Violence Programs: Why you don’t have to FREAK out, Restaurant Loss Prevention & Security Association
- January 17, 2024EventPresenterCalifornia’s Workplace Violent Prevention Law, Retail Industry Trade Association
- October 19, 2023Event
- March 8, 2023EventPresenterThe Mental Health Crisis and the Workplace, ABA OSHA Subcommittee Meeting
- June 23, 2022Event
- March 29, 2022EventPresenterCOVID-19 Legal Issues, Virginia Bankers’ Association
- November 11, 2021EventPresenterCOVID-19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard, NDAA
- November 5, 2021EventSpeakerBriefing on Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), Industry Group
- July 21, 2021Event
- July 14, 2021EventCo-presenterHot Topics in Employment Law, National Retail Federation, Retail Law Summit
- April 29, 2021EventPresenterReturning to work, working from home, or some flexible combination? Issues employers will need to address, ACC Houston Half Day CLE Seminar: Employment Law 2021
- April 28, 2021EventPresenterNational Diocesan Attorney Association Annual Meeting, COVID-19 Employment Related Legal Issues
- March 25, 2021EventPanelistABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee Midwinter Meeting, COVID-19 and OSHA Alternatives
- December 2020EventSpeakerThe Biden Administration: Environmental, Health and Safety Priorities, and Implications
- July 24, 2020EventPresenterAssociation of Corporate Counsel, Marijuana and the Workplace, ACC National Capital Region Summer Series
- May 11, 2020Event
- April 7, 2020Event
- April 10, 2019EventPresenterDC Bar, Mediation Boot Camp: What Works from a Defense Attorney Perspective, Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association
- March 6, 2019EventPanelist“Whistleblower, Retaliation, and Alternative Litigation”, American Bar Association Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee 2019 Midwinter Meeting
- October 30, 2018EventPresenterHow the #MeToo Movement is Changing the Workplace, DC Bar CLE
- October 18, 2018EventPresenterUnderstanding Harassment in the #MeToo Era, Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, The 2018 Annual Meeting & Conference
- October 17, 2018EventPresenterHot Topics in Employment Law Managers Should Know About, Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, The 2018 Annual Meeting & Conference
- March 7, 2018EventSpeakerThreats to the Aggregate Industry from Litigation & Regulatory Perspectives, NSSGA’s Legal Symposium
- May 1, 2017EventPresenterJoint Employers: Liability, Compliance, and Practical Tips, National Diocesan Attorneys Association Annual Meeting
- September 24, 2016EventPresenterMSHA’s Regulatory Agenda, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, Las Vegas, NV
- September 13, 2016Event
- March 23, 2016EventPresenterIssues Horizon for Litigation, Regulation & Legislation, NSSGA Legal Symposium
- March 17, 2016EventSpeakerWage and Hour Litigation and Enforcement Trends and What Employers Should Do About Them, Now, Hunton & Williams Webinar
- November 3, 2015EventPanelist“States as the Laboratories of Democracy: Have the DCHRA and State Discrimination Statutes Surpassed Title VII in Usefulness and Potency?”, Hot Topics in Employment Law CLE, Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association and The Federal Bar Association, DC Chapter
- October 5, 2015EventPresenter“Trends and Issues in Labor and Employment Litigation” at the Litigation Strategies, Tactics Issues in Labor and Employment Litigation CLE, Hunton & Williams LLP
- March 26, 2015EventPresenter“Making Mediation Work for You,” Virginia CLE
- November 7, 2013EventPresenter“Surprise! There are 27 OSHAs,” ABA Labor & Employment Committee meeting
- March 5, 2013EventPresenter“An OSHA Primer,” ABA OSHA Subcommittee Meeting
- March 2011EventPresenter“Enforcement Trends,” ABA OSHA Subcommittee Meeting
- October 2010EventPresenter“Social Media Labor and Employment Law Issues,” The Virginia Bar Association Corporate Counsel Forum
- August 2008 and 2009EventPresenter“An Overview of U.S. Labor and Employment Law,” Institute for U.S. Law
- December 2009EventPresenter“Davis Bacon Prevailing Wage Obligations,” Solar Energy Industries Association
- May 2006EventPresenter“Just Cause Across Industries: Media, Communications, and Technology,” National Academy of Arbitrators
Publications
- February 24, 2025Publication
- January 30, 2025Publication
- October 24, 2024Publication
- 5 Minute ReadOctober 16, 2024Publication
- September 19, 2024Publication
- 6 Minute ReadSeptember 13, 2024Publication
- June 10, 2024
- March 21, 2024Publication
- January 26, 2024Publication
- January 25, 2024Publication
- October 13, 2023Publication
- July 14, 2023Publication
- January 2023Publication
- January 11, 2023Publication
- December 23, 2022Publication
- November 17, 2022Publication
- January 2022Publication
- March 1, 2021Publication
- February 17, 2021Publication
- 9 Minute ReadFebruary 3, 2021Publication
- February 2021Publication
- January 2021PublicationCo-authorLegal and Practical Consideration Associated With COVID-19 Vaccine Programs for Electric Cooperative, NRECA Legal Reporting Service, vol. 57 no. 1
- June 7, 2017Publication
- 2010PublicationAuthorDavis Bacon Obligations under ARRA, Hunton & Williams Renewable Energy Quarterly
- May 2009Publication
Blog Posts
- September 24, 2024Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- August 22, 2024Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- July 16, 2024Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- The Nickel Report
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- The Nickel Report
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
- Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives
News
- 1 Minute ReadMarch 4, 2025News
- 3 Minute ReadOctober 3, 2024News
- 6 Minute ReadJune 6, 2024News
- December 27, 2023Media Mention
- 2 Minute ReadOctober 3, 2023News
- July 10, 2023Media Mention
- 6 Minute ReadJune 1, 2023News
- April 3, 2023Media Mention
- March 15, 2023Media Mention
- 2 Minute ReadSeptember 22, 2022News
- 6 Minute ReadJune 1, 2022News
- 2 Minute ReadApril 7, 2022News
- January 28, 2022Media Mention
- January 27, 2022Media Mention
- January 21, 2022Media Mention
- January 14, 2022Media Mention
- 2 Minute ReadSeptember 22, 2021News
- 6 Minute ReadJune 10, 2021News
- May 3, 2021Media Mention
- January 27, 2021Media MentionQuotedEmployers await federal workplace safety standard for COVID-19, Business Insurance
- December 11, 2020Media Mention
- 2 Minute ReadOctober 15, 2020News
- October 5, 2020Media Mention
- October 1, 2020Media Mention
- 2 Minute ReadSeptember 1, 2020News
- August 20, 2020Media Mention
- 1 Minute ReadJuly 21, 2016News
- 4 Minute ReadApril 9, 2014News
- 1 Minute ReadApril 16, 2012Media Mention
- 1 Minute ReadMay 11, 2009News
JD, Wake Forest University School of Law, cum laude, 1989
BA, English and Government, The College of William & Mary, 1984
District of Columbia
Virginia
Areas of Focus
- Labor and Employment
- Labor-Management Relations and Labor Litigation
- Unfair Competition and Employee Raiding
- Complex Employment Litigation
- OSHA Compliance, Litigation and Defense
- Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Counseling
- Immigration
- Crisis Management
- Batteries and Energy Storage
- COVID-19 Litigation
- National Security
- Energy Sector Security Team
- Environmental Release and Incident Response
- Food Industry
- Retail and Consumer Products