Washington, DC (April 2023) – Conn Maciel Carey LLP (CMC), a boutique law firm with national practices in labor and employment, workplace safety (OSHA and MSHA), and litigation, is pleased to announce that Mark Ishu has joined the firm’s Chicago office as a Senior Counsel.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Ishu spent over a decade serving as a Trial Attorney for the United States Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, where he prosecuted civil violations under federal labor statutes for the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Mine Safety and Health Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Davis Bacon Act, Service Contract Act, Immigration Nationality Act (H-1B, H-2B, H-2A), and whistleblower statutes. During his tenure, he was dedicated to fostering, promoting, and protecting the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees in improving working conditions, advancing opportunities for profitable employment, and assuring work-related benefits and rights.
Co-Managing Partner, Aaron Gelb, says “After litigating several significant citations with Mark on the other side representing OSHA, I came to respect him as a worthy adversary and like him as a person. Mark was always a zealous advocate but consistently conducted himself in a way that we could discuss and debate the merits of our respective positions in a respectful and productive way. When the opportunity to hire Mark presented itself, I jumped at the opportunity as I am confident that he’ll do the same great work for our clients that he did for the government. I am particularly excited to welcome Mark to the CMC family because I believe he will bring a unique perspective after more than a decade representing state and federal government agencies that will help our clients better understand what their regulators expect from them.”
Mr. Ishu has successfully defended summary judgment motions in federal court and various administrative tribunals relating to securing retirement benefits for workers, minimum wage for home healthcare workers, overtime/tip credit issues for restaurant workers, and Lockout/Tagout violations in the food processing arena.
“Mark’s deep knowledge about litigating wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and other employment statutes regulated by the U.S. Department of Labor will be a terrific resource for our clients who navigate challenging wage issues across a variety of industries,” says Kara M. Maciel, Labor and Employment Chair. “I am thrilled to add another seasoned litigator to our Labor and Employment practice who will serve our clients in the Midwest region and across the United States.”
“I always had the greatest respect for Mark when he was on the other side of the table. In cases, as we litigated against each other, he always brought the same level of passion and creativity on behalf of OSHA that we pride ourselves on at Conn Maciel Carey on behalf of employers,” says OSHA Practice Chair, Eric J. Conn. “Having another highly respected former Department of Labor attorney join our team, furthers our commitment to operate an OSHA defense practice that builds bridges with OSHA rather than burns them.”
Not only is he a founding member of the Assyrian American Bar Association, but Mr. Ishu served as a member of the Solicitor’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility committee. He also speaks Aramaic, Arabic, French, and Spanish.
“I look forward to tailoring 15 years of government experience towards helping clients build inviolable workplaces, and hope to build deep-rooted relationships in the process,” Mr. Ishu says. “I have long maintained a profound respect for the way in which CMC represents its clients, creating lasting solutions and meaningful partnerships.”
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About Conn Maciel Carey LLP:
Conn Maciel Carey LLP is a boutique law firm focused on Labor & Employment, OSHA/MSHA Workplace Safety, and Litigation. The clients we serve – from multi-national organizations to start-ups to individuals – seek us out for strategic guidance ranging from day-to-day employment counseling to managing government regulatory investigations to leading complex litigation. What sets us apart is our special emphasis on workplace challenges, our creativity in crafting positive solutions, and our passion for service client’s interests. With a lean approach to staffing and use of cloud-based technology, we are able to leverage efficiencies and deliver cost-savings. Based in Washington, DC, with offices in Northern and Southern California, Chicago, and Columbus (OH), we partner with clients nationwide and across a broad spectrum of industries. For more information, please visit www.connmaciel.com.
Contacts:
Theresa Green
(202) 895-2790
Mark Ishu
(312) 868-0406