Ogletree Deakins Welcomes Former Cal/OSHA Judge Ursula Clemons as Special Counsel

Costa Mesa, Calif. – June 23, 2021 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Ursula Clemons as Special Counsel in the firm’s Orange County office. Ursula served the State of California as an attorney and judge for 27 years, most recently as the Presiding Judge of State of California’s Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Appeals Board’s Southern California office.

Ursula practiced in the area of administrative litigation as an enforcement attorney for various State of California entities for more than a decade before becoming an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in 2006 for the Cal/OSHA Appeals Board (OSHAB). During her tenure at OSHAB, Ursula played a major role in the implementation of the OASIS eFiling case system and building the virtual hearings program. She was also a key contributor to the stakeholder training sessions held throughout the state every few years, having created the agenda and materials presented as well as being a moderator and presenter. She was appointed as the Presiding ALJ of the Southern California office in June 2009. In her role as Presiding ALJ, Ursula adjudged matters and oversaw the other administrative law judges and support staff. Ursula regularly interacted with Appeals Board Members and upper management, offering comprehensive advice in a variety of matters. She on-boarded many new ALJs and conducted annual ALJ training.

As Special Counsel, Ursula works with a wide range of litigation issues pertaining to Cal/OSHA compliance and advises clients on numerous aspects of workplace safety and health matters. Her extensive experience allows her to effectively provide counseling to clients on various OSHA-related matters, including preventative advice, preparing for compliance investigations, conferences, settlements, and hearings. She also conducts document review, training sessions, and stakeholder round table panels.

“Ursula’s proven experience and extensive knowledge with Cal/OSHA matters will prove invaluable to the Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group and our clients who need representation reflective of these types of matters,” said Eric Hobbs, chair of the Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group. “She has a stellar reputation and we are thrilled to have her join Ogletree Deakins.”

Ursula is currently the lead instructor for the Laws and Regulations course at the UC San Diego Extension OSHA Training Institute Education Center and serves as an on-call instructor for a private safety organization. She is also involved in several professional groups, including the National Association of Hearing Officials, the American Society of Safety Professionals, and the Whittier Law School Alumni Association. Ursula is a California native who earned her J.D. from Whittier Law School, where she was named Judicial Officer of the Year in 2017, and received her B.S. from the University of Southern California.

About Ogletree Deakins
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core values. U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 10 consecutive years. In 2021, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor & Employment category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 900 attorneys located in 53 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies. www.ogletree.com