On March 12, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Heather MacDougall, of counsel with Akerman LLP, to serve as Commissioner of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), an independent federal agency, which decides contested citations or penalties resulting from OSHA inspections of American work places. MacDougall was nominated by President Barack Obama on November 21, 2013.
"This appointment is a significant honor and we couldn't be more proud of Heather," said James Bramnick, Akerman Labor & Employment Practice Group Chair. "I am confident that she will bring the same level of dedication that she demonstrated while serving Akerman's clients to her new role with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission."
MacDougall serves as of counsel in Akerman's Labor & Employment Practice Group in West Palm Beach, Fla., a position she has held since 2012. In addition to her years in private practice, MacDougall served as chief legal counsel and special advisor to the chairman of the OSHRC from 2002 to 2003. She received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and a J.D. from Marquette University Law School. She is admitted to practice in Florida, Indiana, Virginia, and Wisconsin, and in various federal courts of appeal and district courts.
The OSHRC is an independent federal agency that provides trial and appellate review of workplace safety and health disputes between the Department of Labor and U.S. employers. The agency provides two levels of adjudication: the first level is before an Administrative Law Judge; and the second level is discretionary review of ALJ decisions by a panel of Commissioners.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The National Law Journal NLJ 350 (2013). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2013). More information can be found at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.