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Press Release

Keller and Heckman Announces Promotions to Partner and Counsel

Keller and Heckman LLP is pleased to announce that Ales Bartl has been promoted to Partner and Jennifer Bonanno and Sara Gaines have been promoted to Counsel.

Ales Bartl, Partner, resident in the firm’s Brussels office, advises clients on regulatory compliance of a broad range of products marketed in Europe. Ales primarily focuses on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH); the Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) Regulation; the Biocidal Products Regulation; the Fertilizer Regulation; food law; the regulation of electronic products; and product safety matters. He represents clients in the European Courts and in procedures before the Board of Appeal of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). He also represents clients in various proceedings before the ECHA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as well as before EU and national competent authorities on compliance and enforcement issues, including withdrawals and recalls of potentially unsafe or non-compliant products. 

Contact: email: bartl@khlaw.com; phone: +32 (0) 645 5085

Jennifer Bonanno, Counsel, resident in the firm’s Washington, DC office, advises clients on U.S. and global regulatory compliance issues related to food packaging and other food-contact materials, including recycled plastics for use in contact with food, processing aids for food and alcoholic beverages, and medical devices. In addition to her years of law firm practice, Jennifer’s prior experience as in-house counsel informs her ability to understand the types of practical advice clients need to navigate the complexities of domestic and international regulations. Her international practice focuses on issues arising under the laws and regulations of the United States, the European Union and Japan, but also extends to South America (MERCOSUR), Africa, Australia, other Asian countries, and the Middle East. Her degree in chemistry helps her to devise integrated scientific and regulatory strategies to assist clients with implementing marketing strategies or with innovative approaches to problem solving when issues arise.

Contact: email: bonanno@khlaw.com; phone: +1 202.434.4293

Sara Gaines, Counsel, resident in the firm’s Washington, DC office, advises domestic and international clients regarding global compliance with food additive and food packaging regulations, focusing on the United States, Europe, South America (MERCOSUR), China, and Japan. In addition to her work assisting corporate and individual clients regarding requirements for food-contact materials, Sara works with trade associations to monitor emerging issues facing the packaging industry globally and domestically at both the state and federal levels. Through engagement with government representatives and public interest groups, she develops strategic industry responses and initiatives that encourage packaging innovation and ensure the continued safety of the packaged food supply.

Contact: email: gaines@khlaw.com; phone: +1 202.434.4108