Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, is pleased to announce a major addition to its Occupational Safety and Health practice group with the arrival of Peter Vassalo, a nationally recognized authority on Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) enforcement, as senior counsel in its Washington, D.C. office. 

Vassalo brings nearly three decades of distinguished service from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of the Solicitor in the Division of Occupational Safety and Health where he played a pivotal role in shaping federal occupational safety and health enforcement.

During his tenure at the DOL, Vassalo held numerous roles, most recently serving as Counsel for Special Litigation. In this capacity he was at the forefront of sophisticated and high-impact enforcement matters, overseeing OSHA’s Egregious Enforcement Program and the negotiation of complex, company-wide settlements. He was also the primary point of contact for enforcing OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) standard and led national efforts related to ergonomic enforcement. Additionally, Vassalo acted as the national coordinator for all OSHA matters involving potential criminal violations.

“Peter is one of the most respected voices in OSHA enforcement and his unparalleled insight into federal regulatory strategy will be invaluable to employers navigating today’s increasingly aggressive enforcement landscape,” said Steve McCown, Alka Ramchandani-Raj and Jamie Spataro, co-chairs of Littler’s Occupational Safety and Health practice group, in a joint statement. 

Vassalo’s deep knowledge and strategic acumen have made him a sought-after advisor and educator. He has also served as an instructor at the OSHA Training Institute, teaching OSHA Compliance Officers in advanced PSM topics, investigation techniques, citation writing, and broader enforcement issues.

“Peter’s addition to our Washington, D.C. office is a major win – not just for Littler but for our clients. As we continue to expand and strengthen our OSHA team in Washington, Peter’s deep government agency experience will without a doubt contribute to the success of our office and the firm nationally,” said Joshua B. Waxman, Washington, D.C. office managing shareholder. “His arrival, following the recent addition of OSHA attorney Adele Abrams, solidifies our position as the go-to firm for high-stakes OSHA matters and further bolsters our deep bench of attorneys advising employers on their most complex regulatory issues.”

Vassalo earned his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Michigan.