Overview
(June 9, 2026, San Francisco) – Steptoe LLP is growing its FDA Regulatory Bench and West Coast capability with the addition of partner Natalie Rainer, a highly regarded regulatory litigator with deep experience advising consumer product and food industry clients. She joins the firm's Environment, Food, and Chemicals group in San Francisco.
Natalie brings extensive experience counseling companies on complex regulatory frameworks governing food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and a broad range of consumer products. Her practice focuses on helping clients navigate compliance requirements imposed by agencies including the US Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Federal Trade Commission, and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, while managing litigation and enforcement risks.
Her addition marks the latest step in Steptoe's continued investment in its California platform and broader West Coast growth strategy. She joins a growing roster of recent additions in the region, including Jamari Buxton, Ryan Lapine, and Corey LaPlante.
Natalie advises manufacturers and retailers on product development, labeling, and marketing strategies, including claims related to nutrition, sustainability, and "natural" or organic positioning. She is also highly experienced in defending clients in class actions and enforcement proceedings involving deceptive advertising, emerging contaminants, and Proposition 65 claims.
In addition, Natalie regularly guides clients through critical issues such as product recalls, food safety compliance under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and evolving state regulatory regimes affecting environmental marketing, packaging, and consumer protection. Her work enables clients to successfully bring innovative products to market while minimizing regulatory and litigation exposure.
"Natalie's arrival reflects our strategy of investing in areas where clients face rapidly evolving regulatory scrutiny and litigation risk," said Steptoe Chair, Gwen Renigar. "Her depth of experience at the intersection of regulation, enforcement, and consumer product innovation strengthens our ability to help clients navigate complex, high-stakes challenges in the marketplace."
"I'm excited to join Steptoe's collaborative and multidisciplinary platform," said Natalie. "The firm's strong reputation for handling sophisticated regulatory and litigation matters and its commitment to client service make it an ideal place to continue growing my practice and supporting clients facing evolving regulatory challenges."
Natalie earned her J.D. from Georgetown University and her Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients and innovative thinking before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
