John D. Surma

John D. Surma, a partner in the Houston office, defends employers nationwide in workplace safety and health matters, regulatory compliance, and catastrophic incident investigations. With decades of experience representing mid- to large-scale employers in healthcare, construction, industrial manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure, John guides businesses through OSHA, MSHA, and other agency actions, as well as risk management, regulatory counseling, and litigation arising from catastrophic workplace events. Employers rely on his strategic counsel to navigate the full scope of workplace safety statutes, enforcement actions, and investigations—ensuring compliance, reducing risk, and protecting business continuity when it matters most.

Drawing on extensive trial and counseling experience, John represents clients before federal and state agencies, manages compliance audits, and develops proactive programs to address evolving regulatory challenges. He has handled approximately 2,000 regulatory inspections and investigated hundreds of fatal workplace incidents, delivering practical solutions that minimize liability and support operational goals.