Conn Maciel Carey LLP (“CMC”), a national boutique Labor and Employment and OSHA/MSHA Workplace Safety law firm, is pleased to announce that Emily Toler Scott has joined the firm as a Senior Counsel in its Washington, DC office. She will support the firm’s national MSHA • Workplace Safety Practice, as well as its OSHA and Labor and Employment Practices.

Emily brings over a decade of experience from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor, where she most recently served as Counsel for Appellate Litigation. In that role, she directed appellate strategy in over 100 matters involving the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), with cases before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, federal appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Emily’s unique insight into MSHA’s internal processes, combined with her deep litigation experience, makes her an incredible asset to our team and to our clients,” said Nicholas W. Scala, Chair of the firm’s MSHA • Workplace Safety Practice Group. “Her background elevates our MSHA practice and further solidifies Conn Maciel Carey’s position as a go-to firm for mine safety legal counsel.”

“Employers face complex challenges and need an attorney who can help them navigate that complexity – everything from compliance with regulations to the highest levels of litigation,” says Emily. “I am looking forward to helping mine operators and other employers navigate the changing landscape of administrative law, and to expanding my litigation practice outside mine safety and health.”

During her tenure at DOL, Emily also served as a Senior Trial Attorney and Honors Attorney, litigating complex enforcement and whistleblower cases under the Mine Act, OSH Act, ERISA, and other statutes. She advised MSHA headquarters and district offices on policy and enforcement matters, defended challenges to safety regulations, and played a critical role in shaping mine safety policy.

“Emily brings a nuanced understanding of how federal agencies approach internal investigation cases, which is invaluable in today’s enforcement climate,” added Kara M. Maciel, Chair of CMC’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. “Her agency perspective enhances our ability to guide clients through high-stakes litigation involving retaliation and regulatory compliance.”

Earlier in her career, Emily successfully resolved landmark litigation that influenced federal safety standards, including a pivotal case involving electronic surveying equipment in underground coal mines. Her strategic litigation work has had a lasting impact on the enforcement and evolution of workplace safety rules.

“Emily’s addition is a game-changer,” said Eric J. Conn, Chair of CMC’s OSHA • Workplace Safety Group. “Her first-hand experience directing MSHA-related litigation gives our clients a powerful advocate and strategist who understands the system from every angle.”

At CMC, Emily will advise and represent mine operators in regulatory compliance, enforcement litigation, and whistleblower investigations, expanding the firm’s capabilities in the highly regulated mining and industrial sectors.

“Emily’s hire reflects our continued commitment to building a powerhouse team of attorneys who have both government and industry experience. Her reputation, intellect, and litigation success will significantly deepen the bench of our national workplace safety practice,” says Aaron R. Gelb, Co-Managing Partner and Chair of the firm’s Midwest OSHA Defense Team.

Here is a link to the press release.