Keller and Heckman is ranked within the Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) 2026 Guide, reinforcing the firm’s standing among leading law firms advising on European Union (EU) regulatory matters. The firm’s Brussels office is ranked in EU Regulatory: Food, EU Regulatory: Privacy and Data Protection, and EU Regulatory: Chemicals.

Within the EU Regulatory: Food category, Keller and Heckman’s Brussels-based Food and Drug practice is highly ranked. The team supports food and food packaging companies facing a wide spectrum of regulatory challenges, including EU market access for new and recycled materials and compliance with evolving legislation designed to advance the circular economy. The practice is led by Partner Rachida Semail, who is ranked by Legal 500 as a “Leading Partner” and widely recognized for her extensive experience in food contact materials. Partner Hazel O’Keeffe also earned “Leading Partner” status for her extensive work involving packaging and sustainability-related matters. Additionally, Partner Craig Simpson brings depth to the team through his experience advising on EU food and feed matters.

The firm’s European Privacy, Data Protection, and Digital Media practice is ranked under EU Regulatory: Privacy and Data Protection, with Partner Peter Craddock leading the EU practice and ranked as a “Next Generation Partner.” Peter provides strategic advice and legal assistance in the areas of privacy, data protection, data governance, AI governance, cybersecurity, e-commerce, digitalization, and software contracting.

In addition, Keller and Heckman earned recognition in the EU Regulatory: Chemicals category, highlighting the contributions of Partners Ales Bartl and Herb Estreicher. Their work spans the firm’s Environmental and Chemical Control practices and includes advising on issues related to waste management, pollution control, and sustainability. The team is highly experienced in regulatory systems governing chemicals, including REACH, as well as biocides and fertilizers.

Legal 500 conducts in-depth research across more than 100 countries worldwide, assessing law firms based on client feedback, firm submissions, and interviews with leading practitioners. Its rankings recognize firms that deliver innovative, high-quality legal advice to corporate counsel across a wide range of practice areas.

About Keller and Heckman

Keller and Heckman is an internationally renowned law firm with a broad practice in the areas of regulatory law, public policy, and litigation. From offices around the world, our attorneys represent global companies and trade associations servicing a range of industries, including food and food additives, tobacco and e-vapor, plastics, pesticides, industrial and specialty chemicals, consumer products, drugs and medical devices, transportation, and communications and technology. Keller and Heckman is a pioneer in the use of interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving with an in-house scientific staff that works closely with the attorneys on matters of technical complexity.

Keller and Heckman’s team of leading attorneys and scientists based in the Brussels office is ranked within the Chambers Europe Guide for Regulatory: Agro/Food, Regulatory: Environment, and TMT: Data Protection.

The firm’s European Food and Drug practice is a Spotlight-ranked practice in the Europe-wide Regulatory: Agro/Food category, with Partners Rachida Semail and Hazel O’Keeffe being recognized individually as Spotlight-ranked attorneys in the same category for their specialized knowledge in food and drug packaging law. Rachida dedicates most of her time to the complexities of food contact matters, and additionally has experience related to food and food ingredient compliance. Hazel focuses on food packaging law and sustainability matters, with a particular focus on packaging waste and green claims.

Partner Craig Simpson has joined Rachida and Hazel on the ranking table with an individual Spotlight ranking for his dedicated service to his clients within the European food and feed sectors. Together, the practice advises some of the world’s largest and most prestigious companies in food manufacturing, food processing, recycled products, and waste management on a comprehensive range of legal and regulatory issues. The Guide highlights Rachida, Hazel, Craig, and the broader Food and Drug team for consistently delivering exceptional legal counsel, with clients sharing that the practice “provides attention to detail, close monitoring and interpretation of complex EU rules.”

Keller and Heckman’s European Environmental practice, led by Partner Ales Bartl and U.S.-based Partner Herb Estreicher, is ranked in the category of Europe-wide Regulatory: Environment. The practice has notable experience helping companies comply with global chemical laws and regulations, including the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, the Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation, and the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). Clients praised the team’s “structured approach” and “very thorough answers linked to relevant legislation.”

Partner Peter Craddock is recognized within the TMT: Data Protection category in Belgium for his distinctive ability to combine strong legal expertise with his background as a software developer, enabling companies to innovate and use data more effectively. As reported in the Guide, clients value Peter’s “360-degree vision” when navigating complex data projects. Keller and Heckman’s Privacy, Data Security, and Digital Media practice advises on all aspects of the digital ecosystem, including privacy, data protection, cybersecurity, AI governance, digital advertising, and other cutting-edge matters.

In addition to its inclusion in the Chambers Europe Guide, Keller and Heckman also receives rankings in the Chambers USA Guide and Chambers Greater China Guide, further demonstrating the firm’s global standing as a leading law firm across a wide range of industries.

About Keller and Heckman

Keller and Heckman is an internationally renowned law firm with a broad practice in the areas of regulatory law, public policy, and litigation. From offices around the world, our attorneys represent global companies and trade associations servicing a range of industries, including food and food additives, tobacco and e-vapor, plastics, pesticides, industrial and specialty chemicals, consumer products, drugs and medical devices, transportation, and communications and technology. Keller and Heckman is a pioneer in the use of interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving with an in-house scientific staff that works closely with the attorneys on matters of technical complexity.