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)
News & Publications
Publications
Next Stop, SCOTUS?: Preemption Holding Creates Circuit Split Over Pesticide Labeling
Washington Legal Foundation: The Legal Pulse
September 9, 2024
Media Mentions
Michael Boucher Quoted in Article About EPA's Plans for New TSCA Exception Rule
July 16, 2024
Media Mentions
Michael Boucher Quoted in an Article about Citizen Enforcement of TSCA Violations by US NGO
June 25, 2024
Media Mentions
ENDS Report and Chemical Watch Quote Darren Abrahams and Tom Gillett on UK REACH
June 3, 2024
Media Mentions
Chemical Watch Quotes Eléonore Mullier and Ruxandra Cana on ECHA Appeals Board Ruling
May 22, 2024
Media Mentions
Michael Boucher Quoted in Article about TSCA Asbestos Risk Management Lawsuits
April 22, 2024
Client Alerts
FDA Publishes Final Rule Revising Bases and Procedures for Revoking FCN Authorizations
March 22, 2024
By: Joan Baughan, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Joseph Dages, Carly Rolph
Events
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
Webinars
Compliance Science: Prop 65 & PFAS Exposure Assessments
February 15, 2024
Speakers: Dennis Raglin, Mike Easter, Emily Goswami
Webinars
Staying Ahead of CSS Webinar Series: EU Recycled Food-Contact Plastics Regulation - Lessons Learned
January 23, 2024
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Ruxandra Cana
Webinars
PFAS in Your Value Chain with ERM
Cost-Effective Strategies for Compliance with the New TSCA PFAS Reporting Rule, TRI Disclosure, and State Programs While Protecting Your Business
December 12, 2023
Speakers: Michael Boucher, Kate Sellers and John Hazard
Seminars & Events
Fifth Annual Regulatory Symposium
November 30, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Tod Cohen, Micah S. Green, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Pantelis Michalopoulos, Michael L. Weiner
Webinars
Staying Ahead of CSS Webinar Series: New Packaging and Packaging Waste Rules in the EU
November 15, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier
Webinars
Global Impacts of the EU PFAS Restrictions
October 12, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier
Resources
Biocides News & Briefs
Endocrine Disruptors: Confronting the New Criteria
November 15, 2017
Biocides News & Briefs
Harmonising the Process for Biocidal Products Authorisations
May 30, 2017
By: Darren Abrahams
Biocides News & Briefs
Adoption of Endocrine Disruptor Criteria: Plain Sailing Ahead?
ChemicalWatch
August 31, 2016
By: Darren Abrahams
Biocides News & Briefs
Biocides and the Board of Appeal: A First Assessment
ChemicalWatch
April 9, 2016
By: Darren Abrahams
Biocides News & Briefs
Masterbatches Under the BPR: A Riddle Resolved?
ChemicalWatch
January 8, 2016
By: Darren Abrahams