Environment, Food, and Chemicals

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, 2026)
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

Environment, Food, and Chemicals, Chemicals

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Alexander Avery

Alex is an experienced trial lawyer who litigates complex civil matters involving fraud, contract, fiduciary duty, conversion, trade secret misappropriation, intellectual property, and unfair...

Associate

Commercial Trials & Litigation, Fraud & False Claims Act, Environment, Food, and Chemicals, Proposition 65

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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 Trials & Litigation, Environmental, Product, & Mass Tort, Environment, Food, and Chemicals, Chemicals

Los Angeles
+1 213 439 9432

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Joan Baughan

Joan Baughan has been practicing food and drug law, focusing on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and comparable international regulation of food contact materials, drugs, cosmetics, and medical...

Senior Counsel

Food Safety & Life Sciences, Food and Feed Safety, Compliance, and Contact Materials, Life Sciences, Consumer Law and Litigation

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 6417

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Jennifer Bonanno

Jennifer Bonanno advises clients on US and global regulatory compliance matters involving food-contact materials, processing aids for use with food and alcoholic beverages, medical devices, and drugs...

Senior Counsel

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

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 6440

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Michael Boucher

Michael Boucher is a partner who advises pesticide, chemical, and consumer product companies on regulatory strategy across complex and evolving federal and state frameworks. His practice is grounded...

Partner

Environment, Food, and Chemicals, US Pesticide Regulation, Chemicals, Consumer Products Regulations

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 8020

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Elodie Brière

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

Associate

Chemicals, Environment, Food, and Chemicals, Consumer Products Regulations, US Pesticide 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, Environment, Food, and Chemicals, Proposition 65, Environmental, Product, & Mass Tort

San Francisco
+1 415 365 6724

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Ruxandra Cana

Ruxandra leads Steptoe's Global Environment, Food, and Chemicals practice group and she also serves as managing partner of the Brussels office. Ruxandra advises and defends clients in matters related...

Partner

Environment, Food, and Chemicals, Food Safety & Life Sciences, Nanotechnology, Chemicals

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