The General Counsel

The General Counsel, appointed by the President to a 4-year term, is independent from the Board and is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of unfair labor practice cases and for the general supervision of the NLRB field offices in the processing of cases.

Lafe Solomon, a career NLRB attorney, was named Acting General Counsel by President Obama as of June 21, 2010. The Agency's top investigative and prosecutorial position, the General Counsel has supervisory authority over all Regional Offices and guides policy on issuing complaints, seeking injunctions, and enforcing the Board's decisions.

Mr. Solomon began his Agency career as a field examiner in Seattle in 1972. After taking a break to pursue a law degree, he returned as an attorney in the Office of Appeals. He transferred to the Appellate Court Branch in 1979. Two years later, he left the General Counsel side of the Agency to join the staff of former Board Member Don Zimmerman. He went on to work for another nine Board Members, including Donald Dotson, Robert Hunter, John Higgins, James Stephens, Mary Cracraft, John Raudabaugh, William Gould, Sarah Fox and Wilma Liebman.

A native of Helena, Arkansas, Mr. Solomon received a B.A. degree in Economics from Brown University in 1970 and a J.D. from Tulane University in 1976.

Mr. Solomon's nomination to serve as General Counsel was sent to the Senate on January 5, 2011.

Speeches and Testimony

Statement before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, United States House of Representatives, June 17, 2011, North Charleston, SC.

Statement before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, United States House of Representatives, April 6, 2011.

Click here for a list of General Counsels since 1935.

Calendar of events