Department profile
Keller and Heckman LLP

Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation

USA Guide 2026 : USA - Nationwide

Share profile

Keller and Heckman LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Keller and Heckman LLP

Keller and Heckman’s world-renowned Food and Drug practice provides clients with comprehensive legal and regulatory advice for a vast range of food and drug products, including foods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, veterinary products, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and cannabis products, as well as the packaging for these products.

We advise clients in promoting, protecting, and defending their products that are regulated by a variety of agencies and regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the European Commission and Member States authorities in the European Union (EU), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and similar authorities and regulators throughout the world.

In the packaging arena, we assist clients with the preparation and submission of food contact notifications, food additive petitions, technical dossiers, and other filings to obtain regulatory clearances for substances (including recycled materials) used in the production of packaging for food, drugs, and other products.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation - USA - Nationwide

Band 1

What the Team is Known For
Keller and Heckman is at the forefront of food and supplement regulatory matters, advising on recalls, advertising and animal feed issues. Highly regarded for its representation of companies with complex scientific issues, including toxicological assessments, the firm fields additional expertise in handling food packaging issues, regularly providing educational seminars to domestic and European clients. Clients include those in the food and beverage, retail and pharmaceutical and life science industries. The team frequently handles the full spectrum of issues associated with newly developed food ingredients.
View ranking table

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Keller and Heckman represented ParallelDirect and Vapor Hatch in federal district court challenges to FDA civil money penalties imposed for marketing ENDS products without marketing authorization.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • K&H's level of depth and competency is second to none. Their deep knowledge of the regulations globally and distinctions between the requirements across jurisdictions set them apart.

    Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA

  • The team’s in-house expertise is technically rigorous and grounded not only in statutory and regulatory requirements, but also in a clear understanding of the current enforcement, policy and market context in which dietary ingredient companies operate.

    Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA

  • The team manages high-stakes, multijurisdictional issues, navigating several different federal and state regulatory landscapes, and guides clients through intricate challenges with clarity and precision.

    Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Devon Hill
    Devon Hill

    Devon Hill

    Devon Hill draws strength from his scientific background to advise on complex food packaging, ingredients and contamination issues.

    • Devon jumps right into the technical matters and understands our concerns.

      Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA
    View profile
  • Evangelia Pelonis
    Evangelia Pelonis

    Evangelia Pelonis

    Evangelia Pelonis boasts significant strength in advising clients on matters concerning FDA and USDA regulations. She provides counsel on issues related to both human food and animal feed.

    • She is knowledgeable about the FDA, very practical and understands the industry.

      Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA

    • Evangelia is very knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.

      Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA
    View profile
  • Richard Mann
    Richard Mann

    Richard Mann

    Richard Mann is commended for his ability to advise clients on both regulatory and litigation matters, including advertising and promotional disputes and compliance issues.

    • Rick comes prepared with options and remains willing to work together to find the approach that fits our business and the situation.

      Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA
    View profile
  • Anthony Pavel
    Anthony Pavel

    Anthony Pavel

    Anthony Pavel handles a range of regulatory and compliance matters related to the FDA, including GRAS determinations, food safety and product recalls.

    • Tony is an exceptional lawyer, with wonderful client-facing skills that make him approachable and listened to.

      Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA

    • He is extremely sophisticated in his legal interpretations and the technical expertise needed to support the food industry, making him one of the go-to attorneys because you know he's considered all angles of an issue.

      Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA

    • He’s very quick to respond and always on top of things.

      Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA
    View profile
  • Frederick A Stearns
    Frederick A Stearns

    Frederick A Stearns

    Frederick Stearns is recognised for his regulatory compliance practice and work with novel products requiring GRAS submissions. He is sought by manufacturers for his FDA expertise. He is further noted for his adroitness in the CBD product space.

    View profile
  • Kathleen Bond
    Kathleen Bond

    Kathleen Bond

    Kathleen Bond is frequently sought by clients to advise on a wide range of food and beverage-related issues. She has in-depth expertise in labelling and advertising.

    View profile
  • Mitzi Clark
    Mitzi Clark

    Mitzi Clark

    Mitzi Clark has a strong reputation for advising on food ingredient and packaging issues, regularly advising clients on GRAS submissions to the FDA.

    • Her guidance is always so thoughtful and positioned with care and consideration for all aspects of the matter.

      Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA

    • She excels in expertise, understanding customer needs appropriately and providing quick responses.

      Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation respondentUSA
    View profile

Ranked Individuals at Keller and Heckman LLP (7)

USA - Nationwide

  • Profile image of Evangelia Pelonis

    Evangelia Pelonis

    Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation

    View profile
  • Profile image of Richard Mann

    Richard Mann

    Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation

    View profile
  • Profile image of Anthony Pavel

    Anthony Pavel

    Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation

    View profile
  • Profile image of Frederick A Stearns

    Frederick A Stearns

    Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation

    View profile
  • Profile image of Kathleen Bond

    Kathleen Bond

    Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation

    View profile

Members

Provided by Keller and Heckman LLP

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership