Melissa Bailey

Practice Areas

Workplace Safety and Health, Governmental Affairs, Ethics Compliance and Whistleblower Response, Mergers and Acquisitions

Career

Melissa Bailey focuses her practice on occupational safety and health issues. She litigates OSHA cases before federal and state agencies and courts, and also represents employers during government inspections and investigations. Her practice also includes providing compliance advice and conducting privileged audits on complex workplace safety issues. Melissa represents employers in a wide range of industries, including electric utilities, chemical manufacturing/refining, retail, food processing, construction, and drug manufacturing. Melissa also regularly represents clients before OSHA in connection with rulemaking and policy formation. She has testified before Congress regarding OSHA issues, and has advocated for management interests with regard to OSHA enforcement and compliance policies.

Melissa has practiced occupational safety and health law for over 20 years and, as a result, she understands the legal issues as well as the practical issues confronting employers. She routinely assesses both the current and future liability that may result from significant OSHA citations, and identifies the most effective approach – whether that is a strategic settlement or litigation – in each case.

Melissa also represents clients in whistleblower matters under a broad range of statutes, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Clean Air Act. Her experience ranges from conducting investigations and developing position statements to litigating whistleblower cases before Administrative Law Judges and in court.

Professional Memberships

National Federation of Independent Business Legal Center (Board Member, Legal Advisory Board)

District of Columbia Bar

American Bar Association (Former Employer Co-Chair, Occupational Safety and Health Committee)

Kansas Bar Association