Chemicals & Environment

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

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 (2023-2024)
Legal 500 EMEA, EU Regulatory: Food, Belgium (2012-2022)
Legal 500 US, Environment: Litigation (2017-2022)

Professionals

Darren Abrahams

Darren enables clients throughout the chemicals and life sciences supply chain to get and keep their products on the European market (in the UK and the EU). He focuses on defence of products through...

Partner

Chemicals & Environment, Food Safety & Life Sciences, Government & Regulatory Litigation, Chemicals

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Melanie A. Ayerh

Melanie Ayerh focuses her practice primarily on complex commercial and class action litigation.Melanie has experience counseling and defending corporate entities, including Fortune 500 companies, in...

Of Counsel

Commercial Litigation, Environmental, Product, & Mass Tort, Chemicals & Environment, Chemicals

Los Angeles
+1 213 439 9432

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Michael Boucher

Michael Boucher is a partner in the Chemical, Environmental and Life Sciences practice. His practice focuses on federal and state regulation of chemical and pest control products, including household...

Partner

Chemicals & Environment, Chemicals, Consumer Products Regulations, Environmental Impacts & Permitting

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 8020

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Elodie Brière

Elodie advises clients on EU and GB regulatory matters including in relation to chemicals (REACH), biocides (BPR), classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (CLP), persistent organic...

Associate

Chemicals, Chemicals & Environment, Consumer Products Regulations, Environmental Regulation

Brussels
+32 2 626 0536

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Carol R. Brophy

Carol Brophy is a seasoned litigator representing clients in environmental law, administrative law, and state and federal litigation. She represents a wide range of companies in matters involving...

Senior Counsel

Government & Regulatory Litigation, Chemicals & Environment, Proposition 65, Environmental, Product, & Mass Tort

San Francisco
+1 415 365 6724

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Ruxandra Cana

Ruxandra advises and defends clients in matters related to EU regulatory law and litigation with a strong emphasis on product, environmental and sustainability regulations, and increasingly, climate...

Partner

Chemicals & Environment, Food Safety & Life Sciences, Government & Regulatory Litigation, Nanotechnology

Brussels
+32 2 626 0571

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Kimberly Cassidy, Ph.D.

Dr. Kimberly Cassidy is one of Steptoe’s in-house scientists, bringing over 23 years of professional experience. Kim offers comprehensive advice on a wide range of subjects, with a particular emphasis...

Specialist

Food Safety & Life Sciences, Food Contact & Food Regulation, Food Contact Materials, Chemicals

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 1364

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Jessica Cooper, Ph.D.

Dr. Jessica Cooper is one of Steptoe's distinguished in-house scientists, where she advises clients on a wide range of chemical and scientific topics, with a focus on food contact substances, food...

Chemistry Specialist

Food Safety & Life Sciences, Chemicals, Nanotechnology, Food and Feed Safety, Compliance, and Contact Materials

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 8139

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Joseph Dages

Joe is a lawyer serving companies in the food-contact material, chemical, food, dietary supplement, cosmetic, and drug industries. He counsels these companies on compliance with the pervasive...

Partner

Food Safety & Life Sciences, Food and Feed Safety, Compliance, and Contact Materials, Life Sciences, Chemicals & Environment

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 6263

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George Desh

George Desh focuses his practice on complex commercial and environmental litigation. He has successfully represented clients—including manufacturing, chemical, and life-sciences companies—in a broad...

Associate

Chemicals & Environment, Environmental, Product, & Mass Tort, Commercial Litigation