With over 20 plus years as a civil trial attorney, Jim is an experienced litigator at all levels of the judicial system. As lead counsel for Fortune 500 companies, Jim has handled high stakes federal trademark matters and complex commercial disputes. Jim has argued multiple times in both state and federal appellate courts. Generally speaking, Jim supports clients in matters pertaining to complex commercial litigation, LLC member disputes, product liability, intellectual property and technology, and general civil litigation.
Jim is also one of the most seasoned OSHA lawyers in the country. He represents employers involved in safety and health inspections conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. He regularly defends cited employers before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (Commission) and appellate courts. Jim is so well known at the Commission that he was invited to be a panelist at the 2018 Judicial Conference in Washington, D.C.
Jim began practicing law in Washington, D.C., at the law firm of Arent Fox, where he gained tremendous experience defending employers in enforcement actions before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
In 2024, Governor Sununu appointed Jim to the New Hampshire State Board of Education.
Jim enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. In his spare time, he plays guitar, bikes, hikes, skis and plays golf.
Posted by James F. Laboe
OMB Requests Public Input on Deregulation
May 7
OSHA Under A New Administration
Feb 8
OSHA Announces New Higher Penalties for Violations
Feb 5
The EPA bans TCE and PCE
Jan 23
Personal Protection Equipment in Construction
Dec 20
New OSHA Guidelines for Meat Processing Facilities: What You Need to Know
Nov 5
Navigating OSHA’s New Severe Injury Dashboard: Insights for Employers
Sep 13
OSHA’s Proposed Emergency Response Rule: A Call for Revision
Aug 23
Is OSHA’s New Heat Standard Legal? Navigating the Legal and Political Landscape
Aug 22
New Hazard Communication Standard Effective July 19, 2024
Jul 29
OSHA’s Heat Standard Moves Forward
Jun 25
Employers Beware: Whistleblower Complaints on the Rise
May 30
OSHA’s New Walkaround Rule Faces Immediate Challenge
May 30
OSHA’s Controversial Walkaround Rule Becomes Final
Apr 23
The EPA Finalizes Changes to the Risk Management Program
Apr 23
Federal Judge in Georgia Declares DOJ Administrative Law Judges’ Authority to be Unconstitutional
Mar 29
The “Reasonably Necessary” Third-Party? OSHA’s controversial new walkaround rule moves closer to enactment
Mar 6
Process Safety Management and OSHA’s New Enforcement Directive
Feb 16
The New Hazard Communication Standard is Almost Here
Jan 18
OSHA’s Top 10 List Reflects a Robust Enforcement Presence as well as a Continued Focus on the Construction Industry
Dec 15
Double the Trouble
Dec 14
OSHA is Targeting Engineered Stone Fabricators
Nov 6
What is Authorized Employee Representation?
Sep 15
Emphasizing the “Personal” in PPE
Sep 1
OSHA Finalizes Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements
Aug 14
New OSHA NEP Targets Warehousing
Aug 11
New England Seafood Processing Employers Under Scrutiny
Jul 11
OSHA Announces Fall Protection NEP
May 11
OSHA Focuses on Construction Industry
May 8
OSHA Revises the Combustible Dust NEP
Apr 24
OSHA Wants to Clarify Subpoena Practices
Apr 11
Stress, Mental Health, and the Workforce
Feb 28
Get Ready For More Instance-By-Instance Citations
Feb 21
OSHA Plans to Revive the ‘Fairfax Memo’
Feb 9
Time to File Form 300A
Jan 31
The Cost of Noncompliance: OSHA, DOT, EPA Penalties Increase for 2023
Jan 23
Lots of Rulemaking Going On
Dec 30
What Does OSHA’s Top Ten Violations List for 2022 Tell Us?
Dec 22
OSHA Revives Process Safety Management Update
Dec 13
OSHA Expands Severe Violator List Eligibility
Dec 1
DOL Announces A New Independent Contractor Rule
Nov 23
Preparing for an OSHA Inspection
Oct 6
OSHA’s Proposed Penalty Increases Disappear – Enforcement Budget Gets Bigger
Sep 20
OSHA is Getting Serious About Trench Safety
Aug 31
Who’s the Boss in a Multi-Employer Workplace?
Aug 12
Lead Exposure is on OSHA’s Agenda
Jul 28
Tornado Warnings and OSHA
Jun 1
OSHA Updates the Safety Guidance for Industrial Robots
May 16
Powered Industrial Truck Rule Will Be Updated
May 3
OSHA’s Plan to Expand Healthcare Presence
Apr 21
OSHA Wants Your Data
Apr 11
OSHA Penalties Are Getting Pricey
Feb 22
Update: OSHA’s COVID-19 Regulation Plans are in Flux
Feb 11
OSHA’s 2022 Rulemaking
Jan 5
Is An OSHA Inspection In Your Future?
Oct 19
OSHA Moves on a Power Press Standard Revision
Sep 16
Latest OSHA Update to COVID-19 Guidance
Aug 30
OSHA Adjusts Focus of COVID-19 NEP
Aug 4
OSHA Publishes Beryllium Compliance Guidance
Jul 12
OSHA Sets New Healthcare Rules and Recommendations
Jun 29
Restaurants Are Now OSHA targets
Jun 2
Two OSHA Standards Will Reach A Regulatory Milestone in 2021
May 18
COVID-19 Vaccination: Require or Recommend?
Apr 29
OSHA Launches a National Emphasis Program for COVID-19
Mar 23
OSHA Creates New Whistleblower Protection Categories
Mar 9
OSHA Clarifies COVID-19 Reporting (For Now)
Oct 30
OSHA’s Citation And Fine Against Smithfield Foods Is a First
Sep 21
A Call To Update OSHA’s Ammonium Nitrate Standard
Sep 10
OSHA Commits To Improve Complaint Processing
Aug 27
COVID-19 UPDATE: CDC Issues Communication Plan for Employers
Aug 19
OSHA Complaint Data Provides Some Insight
Aug 10
OSHA Issues Silica Standard Enforcement Guidance
Jul 29
COVID-19 UPDATE: When Employees Are Afraid to Come to Work
Jun 16
COVID-19 UPDATE: OSHA’S New Guidance Expects All Employers to Make an Effort
May 26
COVID-19 UPDATE: Communication is Key When Re-Opening Your Business
May 13
COVID-19 UPDATE: Latest OSHA Safety Tips for the Construction Industry, And Your Safety Plan
May 6
COVID-19 UPDATE: How Should Employers Respond to Skyrocketing Whistleblower Complaints?
Apr 22
COVID-19 UPDATE: Emerging Guidance from OSHA for Employers
Apr 15
COVID-19 UPDATE: Guidance for Employers from OSHA
Apr 6
Workplace Violence Prevention
Mar 19
What Happens if OSHA Targets the Wrong Entity?
Feb 26
Workplace Injury and Illness Reporting
Feb 13
How Does OSHA Prioritize Inspection Targets?
Dec 27
What Does OSHA’s New Beryllium Standard Mean?
Dec 16
What’s Up With the OSHA Silica Standard?
Dec 3
The Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2019
Nov 21
The Top 10 OSHA Violations
Nov 13
General Duty Clause Violations
Nov 7
Reporting Workplace Incidents and Drug Testing Policies
Oct 28
Anticipating OSHA’s Upcoming HCS Update
Oct 18
Whistleblower Protection Law is Complicated
Oct 9
7 Things You Must Consider Before Contesting an OSHA Citation
Sep 25
Is a General Contractor Responsible For a Subcontractors’ Safety Mistake?
Sep 11
Federal Heat Stress Standards Are On The Horizon
Aug 19
Acosta is Out, Scalia is Nominated – Will the DOL Actually Get Something Done This Year?
Aug 12
The Departure of Scott Mungo: Will Lack of Leadership Affect OSHA’s Effectiveness?
Jul 31
New LOTO Rules Are On The Horizon
Jul 9
OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) Remains Problematic and Controversial
Jun 17
OSHA is Starting to Use Drones and Employers Need to Be Prepared
May 22
OSHA’s Silica Standard – Top Two Complaints
Jun 7
OSHA’s “Other-Than-Serious” Citations Can Result in Repeats
May 21
Your OSHA Citation May Bar You From Working in Boston
Apr 27
OSHA Must Prove “Knowledge” In Order to Prove a Violation
Mar 27
