Nanotechnologies

Nanotechnologies Resource Center

Ahead of the Curve
While the debate continues on which new nanotechnology breakthroughs will have the most significant effect on our world, efforts to guarantee that the health and environmental impact of nanomaterials is properly understood and controlled are paramount.  In spite of the tremendous benefits offered, nanotechnologies and other revolutionary industrial advances inevitably lead to questions regarding environmental and human health safety: safety of workers, safety within the industrial chain, safety of final consumers, and impact on the environment.

Concern about nanotechnologies has led to national and international regulatory initiatives and voluntary schemes to ensure that the use of nanotechnologies does not negatively impact human health or the environment.  It’s important for companies to understand this viewpoint as regulators strive to firmly enforce industry requirements while not stifling innovation or creating obstacles to bringing new products to market.  With deep roots in the chemical regulatory industry, we represent companies in emerging sciences on a myriad of issues:

• REACH and TSCA
• Patent prosecution and trade secret protection
• Trademark and copyright strategies
• Product stewardship and liability
• Litigation
• International trade policy
• Insurance and reinsurance coverage
• Government relations
• New market entry
• Export controls
• Antitrust and competition
• Customs

Global Thought Leadership
Multi-practice, integrated team of lawyers and scientists
Steptoe is armed with the knowledge and experience to help companies evaluate compliance of their processes and products with current and future regulations, and to resolve related IP, liability, insurance, and other issues across all practice areas.

Our team operates on both sides of the Atlantic
Nanotechnology figures prominently in trans-Atlantic policy dialogues, leading to the expectation that definitions and rules will impact global trade.

Making connections
We are well connected to industry and relevant regulatory bodies, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission (EC), and strive to build an enabling legal environment to support nanotechnology innovation.  As chair of the Regulation Working Group of NANOfutures, an EC-sponsored project, Steptoe’s nanotechnologies practice leader, Dr. Anna Gergely, is a keen supporter of industry cooperation for a favorable regulatory environment for innovation.

Steptoe has a wealth of experience:

• Ensuring compliance of nanomaterials and nanotechnology-enabled products with REACH specifically and all other regulatory requirements more generally;
• Contributing to the developments of evolving regulations;
• Helping companies with voluntary and mandatory reporting requirements and related IP, liability, insurance, and other issues, including reporting requirements; and
• Supporting product stewardship efforts related to nanotechnologies, including efficient communication strategies in the supply chain.

Click here to e-mail the Nanotechnologies team with questions or comments.

Select News & Events

• The Rose Sheet Interviews Jennifer Quinn-Barabanov on Nano Litigation Risk for Spray Sunscreens
• Dr. Anna Gergely Explains the Importance of Nanotechnologies for the US and European Economies
• Food Manufacture Quotes Dr. Anna Gergely in "Industry Radio Silence is Not Moving Nanotechnology Debate Forward"
• Bloomberg Publishes Jennifer Quinn-Barabanov's Article on Minimizing Litigation Risks of Nanotechnology
• Webinar on Global Food Contact Compliance: Special Focus on Nanotechnology
• “Recent Regulatory Developments in Food Additives,” C5’s Forum on Food Safety, Health Claims, and Regulation in Europe
• “Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology in the EU Regulatory Framework,” Annual ERA Conference on European Food Law 2011
• “EU Regulatory Landscape for Innovative Technologies,” IRGC 2011 Annual Event on Risk Governance

More News »

More Seminars & Events »

Publications

• Nano Analyst: European Commission Releases Long Awaited Definition for Nanomaterials
  October 18, 2011
• Where Is “Agronanotechnology” Heading in the United States and European Union?
  Volume 26, Number 1
  Summer 2011, Natural Resources & Environment
• Sunscreen Cos. — 1st To Get Burned By Nano Suits?
  July 28, 2011, Law360
• Nano Analyst: US Government Issues Policy Framework for Regulation of Nanomaterials and Releases Two Regulatory Proposals for Comment
  June 15, 2011

More Publications »