Ralph A. Simmons

Overview

Ralph leverages more than four decades of federal and state regulatory experience to help clients navigate the ever-evolving, complex web of key regulatory issues involving food safety, labeling and packaging.

Ralph regularly assists corporate and individual clients, including food and beverage companies, in a wide variety of matters, including regulatory and legislative proceedings, contracts, and litigation. He helps clients establish compliance with the laws and regulations administered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and comparable state authorities.

His clients benefit from his diverse legal insight from having previously served as a senior policy analyst for the FDA. Ralph has advised countless corporations and trade associations with respect to federal, state and international legal and regulatory compliance.

Ralph played a leading role in the adoption and implementation of legislation and regulations creating the Food-Contact Substance Notification process and streamlining the FDA process for approving food packaging while ensuring the safety of the packaged food. Prior to his work at the FDA, Ralph spent more than 20 years in firm leadership at a law firm in Washington, D.C. There, he led a team of 25 lawyers and food scientists focused on FDA and international regulation of food packaging while also serving as managing partner and on the firm’s management committee.

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