Emily Thomas advises domestic and foreign clients on regulatory requirements for food, drugs, dietary supplements, cosmetics, medical devices, and food additives under federal, state, and foreign laws and regulations. She counsels clients on food and allergen labeling, as well as advertising compliance. Emily also helps clients navigate import issues regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and assists companies in gaining the release of detained products.

While in law school, Emily served on the Editorial Board of the American University Law Review as Senior Projects Editor. She was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Professional Responsibility for her work as a Student Attorney for American University’s Community Economic and Equity Development Clinic and is a member of the Order of the Coif. Emily also worked as a Legal Rhetoric Classroom Dean’s Fellow in her second and third years of law school, teaching first-year students how to conduct legal research, compose legal memoranda and appellate briefs, formulate legal arguments, and properly cite legal sources.

Additionally, while in law school Emily served as a Law Clerk for business immigration and family law firms and was a Summer Associate at Keller and Heckman where she conducted regulatory research and assisted with Food Contact Notifications (FCNs) and Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) determinations. 

Representative Matters

• Assisted in preparation for GRAS filing for food ingredients to obtain appropriate regulatory status with FDA on behalf of food manufacturers
• Reviewed clients’ food labeling and promotional materials and provided advice regarding appropriate common or usual names, ingredient declarations, nutrition labeling, allergen labeling, nutrient content claims, structure function claims, and other marketing claims
• Provided guidance on compliance with applicable FSMA requirements, such as Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC) and assisted importers with Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) requirements
• Assisted foreign food manufacturer in navigating import alert status and obtaining release of product for sale in the U.S. 
• Counseled clients on regulatory status and requirements for over-the-counter drug products and medical equipment 
• Advised cosmetic ingredient and finished cosmetic producers on safety substantiation and claims issues to ensure the appropriate marketing of the products

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• American University Order of the Coif