Chemical & Product Regulation

Manufacturers face an increasingly complex regulatory landscape thanks to state, federal, and international laws governing chemical control, product safety, and supply chain. Our team is singularly qualified to assist clients in defense and advocacy where rules conflict with business realities and provide clients with critical services to assure them that they are in compliance where they sell their products. We also alert clients to emerging chemical regulation trends sufficiently far in advance to do intelligent product planning and design appropriate engagement strategies.

While the governments of key markets across the globe have adopted regulatory frameworks to manage the risks that chemicals and products may pose, undoubtedly the most aggressive program in the U.S. is found in California. The regulations, applied to a broad range of “consumer products” sold in California, are subject to ongoing development and revision—including exactly which combinations of products and chemicals will be subject to regulation. We have the government relationships, as well as key connections in the regulatory and NGO communities nationwide, and the experience to provide clients with a strong and effective voice in shaping these details.

We routinely draw on our national team of highly skilled environmental, health, and safety attorneys, as well as the firm’s deep bench of product liability, class action, and toxic tort litigation attorneys, to provide unparalleled legal counsel to chemical and product manufacturers.

• Counsel one of the world’s largest fast food restaurants in monitoring and offering strategic advice on the global arena of Green Chemistry regulations designed to regulate the safety of consumer products. We also assist with training of the client’s Asia suppliers to fully comply with existing and anticipated consumer product requirements, as well as validating proactive compliance programs.
• Provide regulatory advocacy to an international footwear and apparel manufacturer on a state-by-state basis in connection with the development of product ingredient laws and regulations pertaining to global supply regulations.
• Counsel a chemical industry trade association on various on California laws and regulations related to manufacturing safer consumer products.
• Advise a manufacturer of molded and fiberglass reinforced plastic products on TSCA/Toxic Substances Control Act compliance.
• Counsel an American high-end designer with a collection of tailored clothing, sportswear and accessories on California anti-slavery rules (SB 657 compliance).
• Advise a personal care and home cleaning products manufacturer on applicability of Prop 65 warnings to cosmetics and personal care products.
• Counsel a specialty minerals producer on the necessary reporting requirements under TSCA/Toxic Substances Control Act.
  Provide advice and counseling to an international non-profit organization on FTC Green Guides. 
• Represent a major global manufacturing trade association in providing advocacy support in the development of laws and regulations governing product ingredients in California.
• Advise global consumer product and electronics manufacturers on existing and emerging chemical and product management regimes in numerous states and help businesses navigate through the policy, legal and business implications and effects of the new product-focused environmental regulatory paradigm.
• Represent mining and mineral companies on business strategy development, compliance planning, acquisitions and related activities in light of emerging green chemistry laws.