Introduction
My focus
I practice exclusively in the area of workplace safety and draw upon my experience in complex litigation and as a former government enforcement attorney to provide clients with effective representation and practical solutions. I provide clients with input and feedback on emerging OSHA laws and regulations, provide boots-on-the-ground crisis management, conduct internal investigations of workplace accidents, facilitate workplace safety audits, draft OSHA-required safety plans, and defend OSHA citations from issuance through appeal.
My experience includes a wide range of highly regulated industries, including logistics, construction, manufacturing, automotive, logging, energy, robotics, healthcare, and agriculture.
My practice also includes policy advocacy, which includes drafting comments to regulatory rulemaking, strategizing judicial challenges to final regulations, and drafting amicus briefs on behalf of industry coalitions.
Previously, I have served as an attorney with the California Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA).
Looking ahead
With the resurgence in the manufacturing sector in the U.S., more and more people are working in hazardous jobs. Employers should ensure their legal and safety departments are well-versed and complying with OSHA regulations to address these high-hazard, highly regulated workplaces.
In the news
- Bloomberg Law
Safety review board lawsuit adds fuel to agency power struggle
Sep 25, 2024Labor & Employment partner Melissa Peters of San Francisco and counsel Eric Compere of Los Angeles, co-leaders of NP’s OSHA team, provide commentary in this article covering Kenric Steel LLC’s lawsuit against the US Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission seeking to block enforcement of a $348,000 safety fine against it. Melissa and Eric discuss how the OSHRC litigation will set the stage for future lawsuits, citing Supreme Court decisions focused on reining in federal agencies’ adjudicative powers, as well as the reaction from the business community and smaller employers.
- Law360
Nixon Peabody adds duo as OSHA practice chairs
May 24, 2024The following article features the NP arrivals of Labor & Employment partner Melissa Peters of San Francisco and counsel Eric Compere of Los Angeles, co-leaders of NP’s OSHA team.
- Bloomberg Law
Nixon Peabody expands OSHA practice with partner, counsel
May 23, 2024The following article features the NP arrivals of Labor & Employment partner Melissa Peters of San Francisco and counsel Eric Compere of Los Angeles, co-leaders of NP’s OSHA team.
- Reuters
The Daily Docket
May 23, 2024The following article features the NP arrivals of Labor & Employment partner Melissa Peters of San Francisco and counsel Eric Compere of Los Angeles, co-leaders of NP’s OSHA team.
Admitted to practice
California
Education
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, J.D.
Williams College, B.A.
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllShelagh C.N. Michaud
Senior Attorney- Providence
- Office:+1 401.454.1133Mobile:+1 401.316.2504
- smichaud@nixonpeabody.com
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