Steptoe's integrated team of lawyers, scientists, and advisors guide clients through the ever-changing regulatory landscape that requires mastery of not just the law but of the underlying science. We have a particular focus on the US, European Union, and China markets but with regulators increasingly coordinating efforts across national borders, we are able to provide advice that informs global compliance and business strategies.
Steptoe's constructive engagement with regulators and legislators helps us obtain the best possible results and shape our clients’ regulatory environment. When necessary, we litigate matters involving chemical regulation, including hazardous substances and waste, and air and water quality and land use. We have an especially active litigation practice in the EU, including before ECHA and European Courts. We also prosecute and defend claims under US federal and state environmental statutory schemes. In China, we have successfully assisted clients in obtaining market access and having input in evolving Chinese regimes.
Our clients are companies, trade associations, and public institutions that consult us in five principal areas:
- Building and executing strategies for compliance with cross-sector regulatory schemes, including pre-market authorizations, classification, and labeling
- Legal advocacy before decision makers on legislative, administrative, and policy proposals in order to help shape the general regulatory environment and product-specific regulation
- Representation before courts, administrative authorities, and enforcement bodies
- Assessment and management of environmental risks accompanying corporate acquisitions and divestitures
- Regulatory monitoring and analysis to keep abreast of the latest legal developments
Noteworthy
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Chambers Europe, Band 1, Regulatory: Environment, Europe-wide (2014-2024)
- Chambers Europe, Band 1, Regulatory: Agro/Food, Europe-wide (2017-2024)
- Legal 500 EMEA, EU Regulatory: Chemicals, Belgium (2013-2019)
- Legal 500 EMEA, Top Tier, EU Regulatory: Chemicals, Belgium (2023)
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Legal 500 EMEA, EU Regulatory: Food, Belgium (2012-2019)
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Legal 500 EMEA, Tier 1, EU Regulatory: Environment, Belgium (2013-2016)
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Legal 500 US, Environment: Litigation (2017-2022)
News & Publications
Client Alerts
FDA Publishes Final Rule Revising Bases and Procedures for Revoking FCN Authorizations
March 22, 2024
By: Joan Baughan, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Joseph Dages, Carly Rolph
Press Releases
Steptoe Secures California Proposition 65 Win on Behalf of Client Gulf Pacific Rice
March 19, 2024
Press Releases
March 14, 2024
Publications
Environment & Climate Change Laws and Regulations 2024
International Comparative Legal Guides
March 2024
Media Mentions
Chemical Watch Quotes Michael Boucher in Article about TSCA Risk Evaluation of Vinyl Chloride
February 28, 2024
Media Mentions
Inside EPA Quotes Seth Goldberg in Article About EPA’s Risk Assessment Discrepancy
January 29, 2024
California Consumer Chemicals Law Blog
Big Win for Defense in Prop 65 Food Case
January 24, 2024
By: Dennis Raglin
Client Alerts
Chemicals Regulation: Key Considerations in the EU and the UK in 2024
January 22, 2024
Client Alerts
Regulatory Landscape in the EU and the UK: Key Considerations in 2024
January 22, 2024
By: Renato Antonini, Eva Monard, Byron Maniatis, Yongqing Bao, Elli Zachari, Mihai Ioachimescu-Voinea, Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier, Alexandra Melia, Zoe Osborne, Guy Soussan, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Maria Avramidou, Charles Whiddington, Yumiko Takahashi, Zanda Romata, Darren Abrahams, Tom Gillett, Roman Spangenberg, Jonathon Egerton-Peters, Michael Lee
Events
Webinars
Compliance Science: Prop 65 & PFAS Exposure Assessments
February 15, 2024
Speakers: Dennis Raglin, Mike Easter, Emily Goswami
Webinars
Staying Ahead of CSS Webinar Series: EU Recycled Food-Contact Plastics Regulation - Lessons Learned
January 23, 2024
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Ruxandra Cana
Webinars
PFAS in Your Value Chain with ERM
Cost-Effective Strategies for Compliance with the New TSCA PFAS Reporting Rule, TRI Disclosure, and State Programs While Protecting Your Business
December 12, 2023
Speakers: Michael Boucher, Seth Goldberg, Kate Sellers and John Hazard
Seminars & Events
Fifth Annual Regulatory Symposium
November 30, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Elizabeth A. Cassady, Tod Cohen, Micah S. Green, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Pantelis Michalopoulos, Michael L. Weiner
Webinars
Staying Ahead of CSS Webinar Series: New Packaging and Packaging Waste Rules in the EU
November 15, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier
Webinars
Global Impacts of the EU PFAS Restrictions
October 12, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier
Webinars
Staying Ahead of CSS Webinar Series: Where Do We Stand?
October 4, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier
Webinars
California Consumer Products Chemical Law Update
What's New, Trends and Comparison with Other States' Laws
June 21, 2023
Speaker: Dennis Raglin
Seminars & Events
EU Chemicals and Sustainability Conference
June 19, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier, Darren Abrahams, Zanda Romata, Tom Gillett, Roman Spangenberg, Joan Baughan, Robert L. Shuftan
Webinars
Staying Ahead of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
May 16, 2023
Speakers: Eléonore Mullier, Joseph Dages, Surya Kundu, Zanda Romata
Resources
Biocides News & Briefs
Endocrine Disruptors: Confronting the New Criteria
November 15, 2017
Biocides News & Briefs
Harmonising the Process for Biocidal Products Authorisations
May 30, 2017
By: Darren Abrahams
Biocides News & Briefs
Adoption of Endocrine Disruptor Criteria: Plain Sailing Ahead?
ChemicalWatch
August 31, 2016
By: Darren Abrahams
Biocides News & Briefs
Biocides and the Board of Appeal: A First Assessment
ChemicalWatch
April 9, 2016
By: Darren Abrahams
Biocides News & Briefs
Masterbatches Under the BPR: A Riddle Resolved?
ChemicalWatch
January 8, 2016
By: Darren Abrahams