Natalie E. Rainer

Natalie Rainer is a partner in the Healthcare and FDA practice group, focusing on laws affecting the food, cosmetic, and broader consumer product industries, with deep experience guiding companies in household goods, personal care, apparel, and retail through complex regulatory and litigation challenges.She advises manufacturers of finished foods, supplements, food-contact materials, additives, and processing aids on compliance with requirements administered by the US Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, and Federal Trade Commission. She advises on labeling and marketing—including use of structure/function, nutrient content, and other claims (e.g., organic and “natural”)—not only from a regulatory compliance standpoint but also from a class action litigation risk perspective. Natalie has successfully filed with FDA numerous Generally Recognized as Safe Notices, Color Additive Petitions, and Food Contact Notifications, enabling clients to bring innovative products to market. 

In addition to federal requirements, Natalie regularly advises clients on the increasingly complex patchwork of state laws affecting not only food but consumer products more broadly, such as extended producer responsibility schemes, environmental marketing limitations, and restrictions on contaminants.  

Her regulatory counseling often dovetails with the litigation practice, defending clients against not only deceptive advertising challenges but also claims alleging exposure to emerging contaminants like microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. She frequently represents clients in the food, textile, appliance, hardware, and consumer product industries in Proposition 65 enforcement challenges and provides pragmatic advice on Proposition 65 compliance. Her practice spans the consumer sector, advising manufacturers and retailers on compliance, sustainability, and marketing claims across apparel, footwear, beauty, household goods, and emerging lifestyle products.

Natalie, who has a Masters in Public Health in addition to her law degree, guides clients through enforcement actions and recall situations involving adulteration, misbranding, foodborne illness, and allergen cross-contamination. She regularly advises on food safety issues and regulatory compliance under the Food Safety Modernization Act. She regularly publishes on key challenges facing consumer product and retail companies, from sustainable packaging and emerging contaminants to advertising litigation risks.

Natalie has a background in bioethics and attended culinary school; this experience provides her with a unique perspective benefiting food and consumer product companies navigating complex regulatory landscapes. This diverse background provides her with a unique perspective benefiting consumer-facing companies navigating both regulatory compliance and evolving consumer expectations around safety, sustainability, and wellness. Prior to joining the firm, Natalie served as a partner in the San Francisco office of an international law firm. She focused her practice in food and food packaging in global jurisdictions including North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.