Jane H. Heidingsfelder

Jane Heidingsfelder is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group. In addition to her traditional employment practice, she has extensive experience representing clients in a wide array of industries before the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA), and the Chemical Safety Board (CSB). Jane is also experienced in leading confidential, internal investigations relating to alleged workplace misconduct, sexual harassment, and #metoo allegations on behalf of companies, organizations, and boards. Jane advises companies in the course of on-site safety and health investigations, as well as in subsequent litigation with the US Department of Labor (DOL). She has handled cases in a number of jurisdictions and defended clients throughout the United States in state and federal courts, as well as before state and federal administrative agencies. A consummate professional, Jane has developed effective working relationships with federal, state, and local regulators and leaders across a number of government departments. Jane helps clients develop, implement, and update safety and health policies and procedures, including contingency plans for responding to employee complaints, and regularly conducts safety and health audits that include a review of required OSHA and MSHA written programs for completeness. She defends employers that have been issued citations and penalties by OSHA and MSHA and handles cases against these agencies at all levels, including the OSHA and MSHA Review Commission and federal appellate courts. She has also successfully negotiated settlement agreements with OSHA and MSHA at the pre-citation stage and after citations have been issued. In addition to her OSHA and MSHA practice, Jane focuses on labor relations, business and commercial litigation, and employment-related litigation, including litigation under Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and their state law counterparts. Jane is often called upon by companies, boards of directors, and organizations to conduct confidential internal investigations of workplace misconduct, sexual harassment, and #metoo allegations. On behalf of insurance agents and stockbrokers, Jane has handled numerous matters involving commercial contracts, covenants not-to-compete, and errors and omissions for insurance agents. She also represents directors and officers in jury and judge trials throughout the Southeast, as well as in proceedings before administrative agencies. Active in professional and civic associations, Jane serves on the boards of the ASAP Foundation and Lighthouse Louisiana.