Overview
Tom Gillett advises clients on environmental and product law, with a focus on chemicals regulation (REACH, CLP, biocides, food contact), product safety and standards (CE/UKCA marking, RoHS, WEEE), sustainability, and the circular economy (packaging, producer responsibility and waste) in both the EU and the UK.
Tom’s product defence experience includes: strategic advice for maintaining market access; advocacy before EU and UK institutions and agencies; appeals before the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Board of Appeal; regulatory investigations; and commercial disputes concerning product compliance, safety and liability.
As the UK and EU rules diverge, Steptoe provides a “one-stop shop” suite of cutting edge services to manage this change. Tom regularly speaks at industry events on issues relating to the market access challenges that flow from placing products on the market on both sides of the channel.
With a background in complex and technical contentious environmental law (including contaminated land, pollution incidents, environmental permitting and waste regulation), Tom is well placed to help clients navigate regulatory challenges, as well as to provide advice on compliance, data sharing, consortium management, and supply chain due diligence.
- Solicitor, England & Wales
- L.P.C. with M.Sc., University of Law (London), Law, Business and Management
- G.D.L., BPP Law School
- B.A. and M.A., University of Bath, European Studies with French and Italian
Areas of Work
Speaking Engagements
- "Compliance strategies for GB Biocides," Biocides Europe 2025 (Chemical Watch), Vienna, December 2, 2025
- "The future of UK chemicals regulation beyond REACH," CIA / Steptoe Chemical Reactions conference, October 16, 2025
- "UK & EU REACH Update," International Fragrance Association (IFRA), UK Members' Information Day, September 11, 2025
- "May you live in interesting times: The future of chemicals regulation in the UK," British Chemicals Association AGM, Royal Society of Chemistry, July 15, 2025
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"Legal perspectives on divergence with case studies on CLP and biocides," Future Directions for UK Chemicals Regulation 2024, online, December 10, 2024
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"Extended Producer Responsibility Basics: Latest Developments in the UK," Plastics & Paper 2024 (Smithers), Vienna, December 9, 2024
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"Roles, goals, and priorities: the existing architecture in UK chemicals regulation," and Moderator, "The future of UK chemicals regulation," Chemical Reactions: UK Chemicals Conference, Manchester, September 24, 2024
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"EU Food safety & packaging regulations towards sustainable, safer materials," Circular Plastics Packaging Europe - 24th GEPET Series, May 6-7, 2024
- "Sustainability Initiatives in the EU and the UK," Food Contact conference, Washington, DC, April 23-24, 2024
- "Data Sharing and Global Regulations," Chemical Regulations and Sustainability Symposium 2023, October 25-26, 2023
- "UK REACH: Legal Issues to Watch, "Chemikalienrecht außerhalb der EU webinar hosted by Lexxion, September 21-22, 2023
- "UK Chemicals Law," Steptoe EU Chemicals and Sustainability Conference, Brussels, June 19, 2023
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"The regulation of food contact materials for an independent UK market," Global Food Contact Conference (Smithers), Prague, May 23, 2023
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"UK REACH - Understanding Company Responsibilities & Obligations," ChemUK 2023, Birmingham, May 11, 2023
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"Chemicals and hazardous substances," Office for Environmental Protection (training session), May 2, 2023
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“Introduction to UK Food Contact Regulation - Post BREXIT,” Steptoe Food Contact Conference, April 25, 2023
- “The regulation of food contact materials in an independent UK”, Plastics & Paper in Contact with Foodstuffs 2022, Smithers, December 13, 2022
- “Data sharing issues” and “Update on biocides regulation for the GB market”, UK Chemicals Regulations & Policy 2022, Chemical Watch, December 6, 2022
- UK REACH: What in-house counsel need to know about manufacturing and placing chemical products on the GB market”, Lexology Masterclass, November 9, 2022
- "Chemicals Regulation in the UK – REACH, CLP and BPR", Die Akademie Fresenius GmbH Online Training, September 29, 2022
- "Update on Biocides Regulation for the GB Market", UK Chemicals Regulations 2022 conference hosted by Chemical Watch, April 26, 2022
- "What's New for FCM in the UK?," Chemical Watch Food Contact Regulations Europe 2022, March 29, 2022
- "The Environment Act 2021 and beyond: A new era of UK environmental law", Chemicals Industries Association webinar, 2022, January 13
News & Publications
Media Mentions
ENDS Report Quotes Steptoe Attorneys on Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Chemicals Reform Plans
February 25, 2026
Client Alerts
Green Claims: Regulatory and Litigation Focus Intensifies in the EU and UK
February 24, 2026
Client Alerts
Regulatory Landscape in the EU and the UK: Key Considerations for 2026
February 2, 2026
By: Darren Abrahams, Ruxandra Cana, Jonathan C. Drimmer, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Alexandra Melia, Eléonore Mullier, Zoe Osborne, Ronan Scanlan, Guy Soussan, Charles Whiddington, Ana Amador, Tom Gillett
Media Mentions
Media Highlights Key Insights from Steptoe's UK Chemicals Conference
October 28, 2025
Media Mentions
ENDS Report Quotes Darren Abrahams and Tom Gillett on HSE Chemicals Consultation
July 12, 2025
Publications
The new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and its application in Northern Ireland
April 2, 2025
Publications
Environment & Climate Change Laws and Regulations 2025
International Comparative Legal Guides
March 2025
Media Mentions
The ENDS Report Quotes Tom Gillett in Article About UK REACH Work Programme
March 25, 2025
Client Alerts
Regulatory Landscape in the EU and the UK: Key Considerations for 2025
January 16, 2025
By: Darren Abrahams, Ruxandra Cana, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Leigh Mallon, Alexandra Melia, Eléonore Mullier, Zoe Osborne, Ronan Scanlan, Guy Soussan, Charles Whiddington, Tom Gillett, Algirdas Semeta, Maria Salomé Bustos Mesa
Martina Scassini
Media Mentions
ENDS Report and Chemical Watch Quote Darren Abrahams and Tom Gillett on UK REACH
June 3, 2024
Resources
UK Briefing: Chemicals, Products & Sustainability
July 23, 2025
By: Darren Abrahams, Zanda Romata, Tom Gillett, Elodie Brière
UK Briefing: Chemicals, Products & Sustainability
UK Product Safety Rules – Another EU Divergence Challenge?
June 19, 2025
Events
Webinars
Staying Ahead of the Curve on Biocides
November 6, 2025
Speakers: Darren Abrahams, Tom Gillett
Webinars
Effective Advocacy on Proposed Reform to CLP, Biocides and PIC in the UK
July 9, 2025
Speakers: Darren Abrahams, Tom Gillett, Zanda Romata
Seminars & Events
Chemical Reactions: UK Chemicals Conference
September 24, 2024
Speakers: Darren Abrahams, Tom Gillett, Zanda Romata
Webinars
Part Two - REACH Improvement Proposals on Restrictions, Agency Reporting, Animal Testing and More
June 11, 2024
Speakers: Darren Abrahams, Tom Gillett
Seminars & Events
Complimentary Food Contact Conference
April 23, 2024 - April 24, 2024
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Joseph Dages, Carly Rolph, Kimberly Cassidy, Jessica Cooper, Patricia Kinne, Tom Gillett, Ruxandra Cana, Daniel Blynn, Anthony G. Hopp, Surya Kundu, Dr. Yan Gu
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Paul Honigfort, Dr. Zhu Lei
Seminars & Events
EU Chemicals and Sustainability Conference
June 19, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier, Darren Abrahams, Zanda Romata, Tom Gillett, Joan Baughan, Robert L. Shuftan
Seminars & Events
Complimentary Food Contact Conference
April 25, 2023 - April 26, 2023
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Joseph Dages, Carly Rolph, Kimberly Cassidy, Jessica Cooper, Patricia Kinne, Glen Rosini, Tom Gillett, Anthony G. Hopp, Ruxandra Cana, Abigail Miller, Regulatory Review Chemist, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Sean Fischer, Consumer Safety Officer, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Daniel Felton, Executive Director, AMERIPEN
Noteworthy
- Mondaq Thought Leadership Awards, UK, Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences (Spring 2024)