ALANA GENDERSON represents clients through every aspect of health and safety law. She also advises clients on employment best practices and vigorously defends employers in employment and whistleblower litigation.
Alana has served as lead trial counsel in hundreds of OSHA enforcement actions, handling everything from initial onsite investigations to hearings and appeals. She has practiced in virtually all OSHA administrative jurisdictions in the nation, both state and federal. Beyond litigation, Alana also works closely with employers to develop and strengthen their safety and health compliance programs. She regularly visits client worksites to manage U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), state plan, and public health department investigations. Alana has trained thousands of employers and managers on best practices for handling agency investigations.
Alana also guides clients through the administrative rulemaking process. She has submitted comments on newly proposed rules to agencies on behalf of the nation’s most influential trade organizations and has challenged DOL’s rulemaking authority in court on statutory and constitutional grounds.
On the employment front, Alana defends employers in whistleblower proceedings and against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful discharge. She regularly conducts high profile internal investigations and then works with clients to address any risks identified.
Alana maintains an active crisis management practice. She is one of the first phone calls clients make in the immediate aftermath of a workplace incident or in the days before headline news breaks. Much of Alana’s compliance work is “behind the scenes” with executive teams.
Before joining Sidley, Alana was a partner at an internationally recognized law firm where she served as co-leader of the safety and health practice group. Alana also was a Public Interest Fellow for the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, gaining litigation experience in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. For years, Alana served as a co-chair for the DC Legal Aid Society Generous Associates Campaign and is an active supporter of the organization.
Alana's strong and loyal advocacy for clients has made her a respected figure in industry publications, such as:
• Law360, Compliance Rising Star (2024)
• Chambers USA, Up and Coming: National Occupational Safety and Health (2024)
• Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2020–2024)
• Bar Association of the District of Columbia, Young Lawyer of the Year (2018)