Fisher Phillips, an international labor and employment law firm representing employers, is pleased to welcome Partner John D. Surma in Houston. His arrival maintains the firm’s Texas momentum after welcoming Emily Harbison as Regional Managing Partner in Houston and adding more than a dozen other lawyers across the state throughout the past year.
John was most recently at one of the big four labor and employment law firms where he represented clients in workplace safety and health matters. In that capacity, he assisted companies in the interpretation and application of OSHA standards, reviewing and developing regulatory compliance programs, advising on risk management, and defending against regulatory actions and inspections. John has represented clients in over 2,000 inspections across the United States and before a variety of regulatory agencies including OSHA, MSHA, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“We are thrilled to welcome a partner of John’s caliber as the firm continues its growth here in Texas,” said Emily Harbison, Regional Managing Partner of the firm’s Houston Office. “John’s extensive workplace safety experience will bolster what our Texas team can offer in connection with the firm’s talented nationwide bench of workplace safety attorneys.”
John has handled over 400 fatalities and investigations into catastrophic events across a wide range of industries, including plant and refinery explosions, pipeline accidents, mechanical equipment failures, and construction accidents. He is also known for his comprehensive litigation experience and is frequently called upon in the aftermath of catastrophic worksite accidents to manage all aspects of litigation through resolution.
Kristin White and Todd Logsdon, Co-Chairs of the firm’s Workplace Safety and Catastrophe Management Practice Group, are excited to welcome John to their team. As Kristin notes, “having someone like him on the ground in Houston to handle high-stakes incidents across key industries like energy, construction, and manufacturing will be of great value to the employers we serve both in Texas and across the nation.” And Todd added, “John broadens the depth and breadth of the services we provide, including the need for top notch trial experience when litigation cannot be avoided in OSHA and general liability cases resulting from an incident.”
John earned his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and his B.S., summa cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin. He is ranked among The Best Lawyers in America and is a true thought leader whom regularly writes and speaks on workplace-safety and health-related topics.
About Fisher Phillips (www.fisherphillips.com)
With hundreds of attorneys across the globe, Fisher Phillips advises and advocates for employers internationally on some of the most complex and high-profile workplace matters. We leverage our employment experience, tech and thought leadership credentials to keep our clients ready for what’s next. By understanding their business, we help them adapt faster to a faster-changing world, realize possibilities sooner and more effectively, and stay steps ahead when everything is on the line.
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