In Case You Missed it – Food Law Center Symposium

Agenda

• 9am – Welcome and Introductions with David Graham
• 9:05-9:25am – General Review
  • Speaker: Riëtte van Laack
• 9:25-9:55 – Food Safety Review
  • Speaker: Shawn Stevens
• 9:55am-10:25 – Food Labeling Review 
  • Speaker: Emily Zambrana
• 10:25-10:40am – Break
• 10:40-11:10am – Food Nutrition and Policy Review
  • Speaker: Jennifer Hatcher (or team member, to be confirmed)
• 11:10-11:50 – Food Litigation Review Panel
  • Speakers: Rebecca Peterson, Rory Collins, and David Graham (moderator)
• 11:50-12:20 – Antitrust and Related Topics Review
  • Speaker: Howard Iwrey
• 12:20-12:30pm – Q&A

Speaker Details

Riëtte van Laack

• Riëtte van Laack, Ph.D., is a Director at Hyman, Phelps, & McNamara PC, and provides regulatory counsel on OTC products, including foods and dietary supplements, OTC drugs, cosmetics, and animal feed and drugs on a range of FDA, USDA, FTC, and CPSC issues.
• Ms. van Laack has substantial experience with food and dietary supplement issues, labeling and advertising. She counsels clients regarding GMP and HACCP compliance issues, Reportable Food Registry issues, and responses to warning letters. Ms. van Laack advises clients on regulatory strategy, including requirements pertaining to self-determinations of GRAS status and determinations of new dietary ingredient status.  Ms. van Laack also has substantial experience with regulation regarding labeling and advertising of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and cosmetics. Ms. van Laack’s practice includes USDA regulatory issues ranging from requirements for import of animal products (APHIS), use of ingredients in meat, poultry, and egg products (FSIS), and organic labeling requirements (AMS).  Ms. van Laack conducts due diligence evaluations of FDA- and USDA-regulated companies. She additionally assists clients with compliance and liability issues related to products regulated both by the CPSC and FDA.

Rory Collins, Associate at Faegre Drinker

• Rory Collins represents clients in complex and high-stakes litigation. He focuses on defending companies against class actions, including consumer fraud and employment misclassification claims. He also has experience with securities, shareholder, ERISA and franchise litigation.
• Education
  • University of California, Berkeley, School of Law – J.D. Order of the Coif, Supervising Editor of California Law Review (2015)
  • Carleton College – B.A. summa cum laude, Phi Beta kappa (2010)

David Graham, Senior Counsel at Dykema and Adjunct Professor at MHSL

• David P. Graham is Senior Counsel at Dykema Gossett. He defends products liability litigation for clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device and food industries; defends health care clients in False Claims Act cases, government investigations related to allegations of fraud and long-term care malpractice claims; represents clients in multi-district litigation, class actions, and consolidated state court proceedings; and represents clients in FDA and USDA food labeling, advertising and safety matters. David teaches Food Law as part of the Health Law Institute at Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

Jennifer Hatcher, Chief Public Policy Officer and Senior Vice President at FMI

• Jennifer Hatcher serves as Chief Public Policy Officer and Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) overseeing federal, state and regulatory efforts on public policy, legislative and political issues impacting the supermarket industry. She has held this position since April 2009 and has been at FMI in the government relations area since March 1998. Prior to coming to FMI, Jennifer served as Chief of Staff to United States Congressman Spencer Bachus (AL). Jennifer also served as Special Assistant and White House Liaison at the Department of the Treasury during President George H.W. Bush’s Administration. Jennifer has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Communication from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Government from Johns Hopkins University. Jennifer also serves on the Board of the Friends of the National Arboretum.

Howard B. Iwry, Member at Dykema

• Howard Iwrey, leader of Dykema’s antitrust and trade regulation practice, helps clients stay on the right side of that line. When they are accused of crossing it, by enforcement authorities, customers, or competitors, Howard defends them aggressively. Some of the world’s largest manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, financial services, food, and franchising companies count on Howard to bring clarity to complexity and avoid costly business disruptions or catastrophic exposure. When his clients find themselves in the crosshairs for alleged anticompetitive actions, Howard’s understanding of antitrust laws and the markets in which clients operate—and his credibility with enforcement authorities and courts—help him obtain favorable resolutions in difficult criminal and civil matters.

Rebecca Peterson, Partner, Lockridge Grindal Nauen, P.L.L.P.

• Rebecca Peterson is a partner in the firm’s class action group with a focus on consumer protection, product liability, and pet food regulation cases and accompanying regulatory issues. Ms. Peterson has been part of successful prosecution of actions on behalf of consumers in both state and federal courts. Ms. Peterson has been appointed lead counsel and, alongside a group of attorneys, was recognized as Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer for her work on behalf of U.S. farmers. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Peterson practiced in California and had extensive experience in complex class actions, appeals and public relations. Ms. Peterson carries that experience over to her practice today in fighting to protect the rights of consumers in both federal and state courts, as well as before regulatory and quasi-regulatory bodies.
• Ms. Peterson is admitted to the state bar of the States of Minnesota and California. She received her law degree from the University of San Diego School Law and her B.A. from St. Olaf College. She is an Advisory Board Member of the Page Education Foundation.

Shawn Stevens, Founder, Food Industry Lawyer

• Shawn Stevens, the founding member of FIC, is a nationally recognized food attorney who has dedicated his entire firm to “Going All-In for Food and All-Out for Those Who Produce It.” Shawn works closely throughout the U.S. and abroad with food industry clients (including the world’s largest growers, processors, restaurant chains, distributors and grocers) helping them protect their brand by complying with FDA and USDA food safety regulations, reducing food safety risk, managing recalls, and defending high-profile food safety cases. Shawn also speaks regularly to audiences on a wide variety of emerging scientific, technological, regulatory and food safety legal trends, and routinely authors columns for Meatingplace, The National Provisoner and Food Quality and Safety Magazine.

Emily Zambrana, Senior Principal Legal Counsel at Whole Foods Market

• Emily Zambrana is in-house regulatory counsel for Whole Foods Market. She specializes in advising the company on labeling and related regulatory issues for food, cosmetic, and other consumer products. Prior to joining Whole Foods, Emily worked at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, where she defended food and agribusiness companies in false advertising class actions and other product liability lawsuits, and advised food and beverage companies on product labeling and advertising. Prior to joining Faegre, Emily clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit for Judge Richard Suhrheinrich. Emily graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School.