Law Firms Expect More Business When OSHA Fines Rise

Howard Mavity was quoted in Bloomberg BNA on November 30, 2015. The article “Law Firms Expect More Business When OSHA Fines Rise” discussed how higher penalties for federal safety violations will mean more work for business-side law firms.

The hikes will also lead to spillover work for general practice firms that don't currently specialize in Occupational Safety and Health Act citations, predicted Howard.

“A lot of [law firms] will be watching,” Howard told Bloomberg BNA Nov. 30. “The first time you see a $470,000 or $1.1 million fine and the OSHA press release says it's because of the new fines, people are going to say, ‘Wow, this might actually be something clients will come to us for.' That's when you're going to see some scrambling, because it'll make these cases more meaty.”

Howard said Fisher Phillips has already begun doing more cross-training, especially of its younger attorneys, in anticipation of the expected increase in OSHA work.

“We're gearing up,” he said. “We're trying to get more depth in our offices.”