Natalie E. Rainer

Natalie Rainer is a Chambers-ranked lawyer, focusing on laws affecting the food, supplement, and cosmetic industries, with deep experience guiding companies in through complex regulatory and litigation challenges. In addition to working with finished product manufacturers, she also advises manufacturers of food-contact materials, additives, and processing aids on compliance with requirements administered by the US Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, and Federal Trade Commission. Clients note that Natalie is "talented, smart and client service-oriented," and that she "provides advice directly usable with the business." She advises on labeling and marketing—including use of structure/function, nutrient content, and other claims (e.g., organic and "natural")—not only from a regulatory compliance standpoint but also from a class action litigation risk perspective. Natalie has successfully filed with FDA numerous Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Notices, Color Additive Petitions, and Food Contact Notifications (FCNs), enabling clients to bring innovative products to market. 

In addition to federal requirements, Natalie regularly advises clients on the increasingly complex patchwork of state laws affecting food and consumer-facing products, such as extended producer responsibility schemes, environmental marketing limitations, and restrictions on contaminants. Her practice includes advising manufacturers and retailers on compliance, sustainability, and marketing claims across the food and beauty industries. Clients praise her ability to understand their industries, noting that she "understands the primary points of their business very well," and that her "sophistication with the subject matter is excellent."

Her regulatory counseling often dovetails with the litigation practice, defending clients against not only deceptive advertising challenges but also claims alleging exposure to emerging contaminants like microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). She frequently represents clients in Proposition 65 enforcement challenges regarding lead, other heavy metals, PFAS compounds, mycotoxins, and other listed chemicals and provides pragmatic advice on Proposition 65 compliance. products.

Natalie, who has a Masters in Public Health in addition to her law degree, guides clients through enforcement actions and recall situations involving adulteration, misbranding, foodborne illness, and allergen cross-contamination. She regularly advises on food safety issues and regulatory compliance under the Food Safety Modernization Act. She regularly publishes on key challenges facing food, cosmetic, and consumer product companies, from sustainable packaging and emerging contaminants to advertising litigation risks.

Natalie has a background in bioethics and attended culinary school; this experience provides her with a unique perspective benefiting food and consumer product companies navigating complex regulatory landscapes. This diverse background provides her with a unique perspective benefiting consumer-facing companies navigating both regulatory compliance and evolving consumer expectations around safety, sustainability, and wellness.