Arthur Wolfson, Conference Chair
Fisher Phillips
Arthur Wolfson is an attorney in the Pittsburgh office of Fisher & Phillips LLP, practicing in the Workplace Safety and Catastrophe Management Practice Group. He represents clients in regulatory compliance involving OSHA, MSHA and other federal and state agencies. Arthur defends operators before administrative tribunals such as the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, and Circuit Courts of Appeal. He also counsels clients through accident investigations. As a former teacher, a substantial portion of Arthur’s practice involves compliance counseling and training to help clients better understand their legal requirements. Arthur earned his undergraduate degree at the College of William & Mary and his law degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Prior to entering private practice, Arthur worked for the United States Department of Labor.
Doug Parker
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health
US Department of Labor
Douglas L. Parker was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Labor on November 3, 2021. He previously served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy in the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration, and was a member of the Biden-Harris transition team focused on worker health and safety issues. He also held positions as a senior policy advisor and special assistant at the Department of Labor. He most recently served as chief of California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), a position he held since 2019. Prior to his appointment to Cal/OSHA, Mr. Parker was executive director of Worksafe, an Oakland, California-based legal services provider.
Before serving in the Obama Administration, Mr. Parker was a partner at the law firm Mooney, Green, Saindon, Murphy and Welch in Washington, DC. He began his legal career as a staff attorney at the United Mine Workers of America. Prior to law school, Mr. Parker worked in the private sector as a sales and marketing director, in communications for the Democratic National Committee, and was a staff assistant for the late Senator Paul Wellstone. Mr. Parker earned a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. in history from James Madison University. He is married and has two daughters. Mr. Parker is originally from Bluefield, West Virginia, and grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Christopher Williamson
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health
US Department of Labor
Christopher J. Williamson, MSHA’s Assistant Secretary, was appointed by President Biden in 2022. Prior to this he was the senior counsel to National Labor Relations Board Chair Lauren McFerran. Mr. Williamson, a native of West Virginia, worked at MSHA during the Obama administration, advising the assistant secretary on agency policy, operations and communications. He also has served as labor counsel to former Senate HELP Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) and as a legislative assistant to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). He began his career in public service as an attorney-advisor to Administrative Law Judge Jacqueline R. Bulluck at the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.
Mr. Williamson earned a Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University College of Law, a Master of Public Policy from American University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from West Virginia University.
Commissioner Timothy Baker
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
Stanley Keen
Deputy Solicitor for Regional Enforcement
US Department of Labor
After having served for two years as the Deputy Solicitor for National Operations, Stanley Keen is now the Deputy Solicitor for Regional Enforcement within the Office of the Solicitor. Prior to joining SOL’s Front Office in 2019, Mr. Keen was the Regional Solicitor in the Atlanta Regional Solicitor’s Office from May 16, 2004 and served as the Acting Deputy Regional Solicitor and the Counsel for ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act) Litigation.
Mr. Keen joined the Atlanta Regional Solicitor’s Office in 1991. In his first 12 years as a trial attorney with the Department of Labor, he litigated and provided advice in most of the programs enforced by the Department. Notably, Mr. Keen litigated a series of OSHA cases relating to fall hazards on the Space Shuttle launch platforms at Kennedy Space Center; recovered over $14 million in losses to a pension plan sponsored by a Mississippi nursing company; litigated a number of cases intended to end H-2B and wage abuses in the crab-picking industry on the North Carolina coast; conducted the first District Court trial under ERISA involving a multiple-employer welfare arrangement (MEWA).
Before joining the Solicitor’s Office, Mr. Keen served as a judicial clerk and worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he assisted in the investigation of the Ohio bank failures in the 1980s.
Mr. Keen graduated from Emory University School of Law in 1987 and Emory University College in 1984.
Zach Byers
Ogletree Deakins
Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Zach served as an attorney at the Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission where he worked for an administrative law judge and dealt with safety and health violations under the Mine Act. Zach also served as an attorney at the Federal Labor Relations Authority where he handled a wide range of labor and employment issues.
Justin Chandler
Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC
Tom Chibnall
Ogletree Deakins
As member of Ogletree’s Workplace Safety Practice, Tom handles all manner of issues and claims concerning workplace safety laws, regulations, and compliance. He regularly represents clients before the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Tom has significant experience in handling a wide variety of MSHA and OSHA inspections, including incidents resulting in fatalities and serious injury. He also has significant experience in MSHA 105(c) discrimination claims as well as OSHA Section 11(c) retaliation claims. Tom manages all phases of inspections and litigation and has successfully litigate many citations to resolution.
Jonathan Ellis
Steptoe and Johnson, PLLC
Jonathan Ellis is the leader of Steptoe & Johnson’s Mining Industry Group. He regularly defends mining companies in civil litigation against claims of wrongful death, deliberate intent, personal injury, wrongful termination, and breach of contract. Additionally, Jonathan counsels companies on employment issues, advises them on safety compliance issues, represents them during accident investigations, and defends them against violations issued by various regulatory agencies.
Jonathan is a member of the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association, the West Virginia Coal Association, the Kentucky Coal Association, the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, and the National Mining Association. Jonathan is a graduate of Concord University and the Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Jonathan Ellis, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Chase Tower, Seventeenth Floor, 707 Virginia St. East, Charleston, WV 25301; 304.353.8118; jonathan.ellis@steptoe-johnson.com
Tyler Fields
Ramaco Resources, Inc.
Tyler serves as Vice President of Law for Ramaco Resources, Inc., a publicly traded producer of metallurgical coal, and an emerging producer of rare earth elements, critical minerals, and carbon-based products. In his role, Tyler is responsible for Ramaco’s MSHA litigation practice, and works closely with the mining operations to develop best practices for compliance with state and federal safety regulations. Tyler also helps manage Ramaco’s active litigation docket and provides counsel to the company in various other areas, including employment and contract matters. Prior to joining Ramaco, Tyler spent over twelve years in the legal department of Alliance Coal, LLC, where he was responsible for Alliance’s MSHA practice and provided counsel on health and safety, employment, litigation, and other legal issues. He is a graduate of Bellarmine University and the Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law, where he was a member of Chase’s National Trial Advocacy Team.
Office of the Solicitor
US Department of Labor
Troy Gullett
Blackhawk Mining
Troy is the General Manager of Surface Operations for Blackhawk Mining, LLC where he is responsible for mining operations in Kentucky and West Virginia. He is a 2008 graduate from the University of Kentucky where he obtained a B.S. in Mining Engineering and a 2009 graduate of the University of Charleston where he received his M.B.A. Troy has been a registered professional engineer since 2012. With 16 years of experience in the coal industry, he has held various roles in engineering and operations.
Pollyanna Hampton
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
Pollyanna Hampton is the Hearing Office Director with the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge at FMSHRC. She is the principal management advisor to the Chief Judge and works closely with him in the overall management and administration of the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge. Prior to her current management role, she litigated cases in administrative tribunals and District trial courts with the Office of the Solicitor’s Arlington Branch Office. Polly received her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law and her B.A. from Northwestern University.
Mark Heath
Spilman, Thomas & Battle
Mark E. Heath is a Member in Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC’s Charleston, West Virginia office and Co-Chair of the firm’s OSHA & MSHA Practice Group. His primary areas of practice are safety issues (MSHA and OSHA), labor and employment law and litigation. His work involves both federal and state court actions, as well as administrative cases before federal and state agencies. Mark is a Trustee of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, an Associate Board Member of the Kentucky Coal Association and member of the Workplace Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee of the ABA Labor and Employment Section. He has been recognized by Chambers USA for his Labor & Employment Law practice and The Best Lawyers in America for his Energy Law practice. Mark earned his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Western Kentucky University and his law degree from the University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law. From 1987 to 1990, he was a Captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps, assigned to Fort McPherson in Atlanta, GA.
Office of the Solicitor
US Department of Labor
Ryan M. Kooi (he/him) is an attorney with the Mine Safety and Health Division within Solicitor’s Office of the Department of Labor. He has handled many Mine Safety and Health cases and currently serves as the Division’s Whistleblower Coordinator for discrimination and interference cases brought under section 105(c) of the Mine Act. Ryan received his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law.
Margo Lopez
Ogletree Deakins
Margo Lopez is the Co-Leader of the Mine Safety and Health Practice of Ogletree Deakins. For nearly 30 years, she has been representing companies nationwide in all segments of the mining industry in cases contesting citations under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act and has argued precedential mine safety cases before U.S. Courts of Appeals. She helps mining companies navigate complex accident investigations, special investigations and safety discrimination cases. She also advises companies concerning regulatory compliance and provides training on safety and health law. Margo Lopez is a frequent speaker and author on mine safety and health topics and co-writes a monthly column for Pit & Quarry magazine.
Margo Lopez, Ogletree Deakins, 202-263-0244, Margo.Lopez@ogletree.com
Office of the Solicitor
US Department of Labor
Susannah Maltz is an attorney who joined the Solicitor’s office in 2018, and the Mine Safety and Health Division in 2020. She handles trial and appellate matters.
Brad J. Mantel
Office of the Solicitor
US Department of Labor
Brad Mantel is the Counsel for Standards and Legal Advice in the Office of the Solicitor’s Division of Mine Safety and Health. He and his team advise MSHA on the development of standards and regulations under the Mine Act to ensure safe working conditions for miners. He has served at DOL since 2005.
Earlier in his DOL career, Brad worked as a Special Assistant in the Office of Policy, where he advised on policy and regulatory development, and in the Office of Legal Counsel, where he handled a broad legislative portfolio, including appropriations, employment and training, fair labor standards, immigration, international labor affairs, worker safety and health, and administrative law. Brad has a J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law, and a B.A. from Ohio University, where he majored in political science.
Brad J. Mantel, Division of Mine Safety and Health, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor, 201 12th Street South, Suite 401, Arlington, VA 22202; 202-693-9331; mantel.brad.j@dol.gov
R. Henry Moore
Fisher Phillips
Hank is a partner in the Fisher Phillips Pittsburgh office and is a member of the Firm’s nationwide Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group. Hank’s work in occupational safety and health law began in 1978, and since then he has represented and counseled clients in a variety of industries, including coal, metal and nonmetal mining, and stone, sand, and gravel operations.
Over the years, Hank has represented mine operators and individuals in challenges to MSHA enforcement actions, investigations of mine fires and explosions, investigations of fatal accidents, individual penalty cases, criminal matters, MSHA petitions for modifications, and MSHA ventilation and roof control plan challenges. He has interacted with professional engineers in various disciplines over the years, on issues involving ventilation, roof control, mine fires, electronic instruments and structural steel.
Office of the Solicitor
US Department of Labor
Rebecca is an attorney who joined the MSH Division of the Solicitor’s Office in 2019. She represents MSHA in both trial and appellate matters.
Todd Myers
Blackhawk Mining
Todd C. Myers is the Associate General Counsel at Senior VP of Risk Management at Blackhawk Mining, LLC, which is a large coal producer with mines located in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana. Todd oversees civil litigation, regulatory enforcement, insurance programs and risk management at Blackhawk. In addition, Todd assists with training and human resource matters.
Todd earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 2000. During law school, Todd was a member of the National Mock Trial Team. He graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Finance) in 1997.
Brad Oakley
Jackson Kelly
Brad Oakley is a Member in Lexington, Kentucky, office of Jackson Kelly PLLC and practices in the Workplace Safety & Health practice group. He represents national and local mining, construction, and general industry companies in significant MSHA and OSHA proceedings. Clients call on Brad to represent them when the stakes are high, such as accident and fatality investigations by MSHA and OSHA. In addition, he’s successfully represented operators and management individuals in MSHA 105(c) discrimination claims, 110(c) individual liability proceedings, and state licensing proceedings.
Brad also has significant experience representing healthcare providers, engineers, and other professionals in defense of malpractice claims.
Michael Peelish
Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC
Michael Peelish is Of Counsel in the Denver office of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. Michael focuses his practice on MSHA and OSHA occupational safety and health compliance defense issues using his years of experience in legal and safety operations having oversight for safety and health of mining operations for nearly two decades. He has served on numerous MSHA and trade association task forces addressing safety and health issues and testified before the Senate HELP Committee following the Sago disaster. Michael is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and received his BS in Engineering of Mines from West Virginia University and his J.D. from West Virginia University Law School.
Chris Pence
Pence Law Firm
Since his admission to the West Virginia State Bar in 2002, Christopher Pence’s professional experience has focused on litigation and investigations. Mr. Pence has represented clients in litigation involving personal injury, mining disasters, employment and labor disputes, professional negligence, insurance coverage disputes, commercial contract disputes, auto accidents, premises liability and other general litigation throughout the United States. He has experience in the litigation process from start to finish and has served as a first-chair trial lawyer. He has also testified as a corporate representative in a personal injury action stemming from a mining accident. In addition to his civil litigation practice, Mr. Pence has significant experience defending coal operators and individuals in federal investigations stemming from the enforcement of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. He also has significant experience practicing before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. Mr. Pence is a native of South Charleston, West Virginia and a graduate of Marshall University and the West Virginia University College of Law, where received the Order of the Coif. He has also served as a speaker at numerous industry-specific functions. He currently manages Pence Law Firm PLLC.
Willa Perlmutter
Stoel Rives
Willa Perlmutter, chair of Stoel Rives’ OSHA group and co-chair of the firm’s mining group, has more than 40 years of experience as a litigator, focusing for the last 25 on defending mine operators across all sectors of the industry in administrative enforcement proceedings brought by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for alleged violations of the Mine Act. Willa regularly defends companies and individuals facing investigations and formal legal proceedings for alleged safety and health violations under both the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
Prior to joining Stoel Rives, Willa was an attorney-adviser for the U.S. Department of the Interior and supervising attorney in the Juneau office of Alaska Legal Services Corporation.
Robin Repass
Fisher Phillips
Robin Repass has more than 25 years of experience in-house and in private practice advising global businesses on labor and employment, workplace safety, litigation, compliance and public policy matters.
Robin was formerly Amazon’s Senior Corporate Counsel of Workplace Safety and Senior Manager of Workplace Safety Public Policy. Most recently, she served as Amazon’s Senior Manager, Global Standards & Compliance, where she led a global safety team within Governance and External Affairs responsible for the company’s worldwide workplace health and safety management system. Robin has also served as Managing Counsel for Global Environment Health, Safety, and Sustainability at a global electric vehicle company, where she litigated and provided state and federal compliance advice on OSHA and related environmental, safety, and health legal requirements.
Robin served in the Tennessee Air National Guard and is a Gulf War veteran.
Judge John Sullivan
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Judge Sullivan attended the University of Scranton and Georgetown Law School. Prior to joining FMSHRC, Judge Sullivan was an associate with two DC area law firms and worked in the General Counsel’s Office of the Association of American Railroads. Judge Sullivan started working with the Commission in 1996 in the Office of General Counsel. Among his responsibilities was working with Commission nominees during the nomination process, and appearing on behalf of the Commission in the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals. He also at times was detailed to work as Counsel to various Commission Chairs, Acting Chairs, and Commissioners. He was sworn in in February 2021 as an ALJ.
LaTasha Thomas
Office of the Solicitor, US Department of Labor
A native of Dothan, AL, LaTasha T. Thomas, currently serves as Senior Counsel to the Solicitor of Labor for the U.S. Department of Labor Office of the Solicitor in Washington, D.C. Prior to her current role, LaTasha was the Counsel for Safety and Health for the southeast region, Region IV based in Nashville, TN. Over her 14 years with DOL, she has litigated cases for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Bob Wilson
Office of the Solicitor
US Department of Labor
Hiliary Wilson
Barrick Gold of North America
Judge Michael Young
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission