Representative Experience

• Represented and counseled a national food producer/food retailer (with more than 1500 company-owned or franchise-operated retail outlets) in connection with national recalls of food products.
• Counseled a national retail food company regarding FDA requirements applicable to labeling food and beverage products, including allergen labeling, nutrient content claims and health claims.
• Counseled a pet food company regarding product recall arising out of potentially contaminated ingredient received from supplier and recovery of related costs from supplier.
• Counseled a national food producer/retailer on a wide range of matters including product recalls, restaurant/menu labeling requirements, product labeling, nutrient content claims, allergen labeling, all natural claims, product naming, standards of identity, supplier contracts, product guarantees, etc.
• Provide food regulatory compliance counseling to a company headquartered in San Diego, California, that operates over 190 restaurants, on issues including allergen labeling, restaurant menu labeling, health and structure/function claims, nutrient content claims, health claims, all natural claims and related issues.
• Represented a leading manufacturing company in connection with the ongoing remediation of the company’s former location of operations. Chlorinated solvent contamination (tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, cis-1,2-dichloroethene and vinyl chloride) was discovered in the soil and groundwater at the time this large manufacturing facility was sold, and the company retained responsibility for investigation and remediation of the identified contamination in cooperation with the current property owner. Groundwater contamination was detected at depth and was migrating off-site, and a municipal well field was located adjacent to the property.
• Counseled a leading food company regarding product destruction arising out of potentially contaminated ingredients received from supplier and recovery of related costs from supplier.
• Represented a major international cheese and dairy company in the acquisition of a specialty cheese company, via a stock purchase.
• Counseled a leading food ingredients company regarding product labeling requirements, including ingredient declarations, nutrient content claims and allergen labeling issues.
• Counseled a beverage manufacturer regarding national product withdrawal in response to allegations regarding alcohol content of product, and related negotiations with distributors, retailers and regulators (FDA and TTB).
• Counseled an international food ingredients manufacturer regarding regulatory issues related to the historic and proposed use of various ingredients and additives in food products. Also advised the client regarding historic and proposed claims concerning probiotics on product labels and in related advertising.
• Represented a consumer products manufacturer in defense of a U.S. EPA enforcement action for alleged violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) arising out of product labeling of antimicrobials in consumer products.
• Represented an energy company in connection with the remedial investigation and feasibility study of a former coke and gas site in the Midwest pursuant to a Consent Order with U.S. EPA. The site, which borders a river in a primarily industrial and commercial municipal area, has been used for industrial activities since the 1800s, including a manufactured coke and gas facility, coal storage, a concrete recycling facility and a scrap and salvage operation.