Alston & Bird has tapped former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deputy chief counsel Perham Gorji to join its FDA: Compliance & Enforcement Team and Drug & Device practice, as a partner in Washington, D.C., strengthening the firm’s ability to handle enforcement matters, internal investigations, and regulatory disputes involving FDA-regulated medical products.
“Perham brings exceptional insight into how FDA and DOJ enforcement decisions are made,” said Rob Stone, partner in Atlanta and chair of Alston & Bird’s Health Care Group. “His impressive government experience and sharp judgment strengthen our ability to advise clients facing manufacturing compliance issues, product risks, and high-stakes regulatory challenges.”
Perham joins Alston & Bird after more than 20 years in senior government roles—including nearly a decade as deputy chief counsel for litigation at the FDA—and subsequent work in the private sector. Earlier, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney and as a trial attorney in the Consumer Protection Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Perham’s practice spans the full range of FDA-regulated products. As part of the firm’s life sciences practice, Perham will work with multinational medical products companies responding to regulatory scrutiny throughout the product lifecycle, including product development, inspections, warning letters, complex enforcement actions, and FDA-related litigation.
“When providing trusted advice for complex life sciences matters, Perham brings a seasoned perspective and a deep understanding of how FDA actions develop—from inspection through enforcement,” said Cathy Burgess, partner and leader of Alston & Bird’s FDA: Drug & Device Team in Washington, D.C. “His experience inside both the FDA and DOJ will be invaluable as we support evolving client needs related to manufacturing practice compliance, internal investigations, and enforcement-related litigation.”
“Alston & Bird has impressive capabilities when it comes to FDA matters and servicing clients, and I look forward to being part of the firm’s collaborative approach and highly respected regulatory offering,” said Perham. “We will continue to draw on robust resources across practices and offices to help clients facing GxP issues, inspections, and enforcement actions that affect how they manufacture, market, and defend their products.”
About Alston & Bird’s FDA: Compliance & Enforcement Team
Alston & Bird advises pharmaceutical, biologics, medical device, and food companies on FDA compliance, enforcement exposure, and litigation across the full product life cycle. The team regularly handles CGMP matters, inspections, crisis situations, and regulatory disputes requiring technical and operational insight. With extensive experience interacting with the agency, the firm helps clients manage risk and respond effectively to increasing regulatory pressures.