It is our annual tradition at the beginning of each year to report on significant issues that face manufacturers/distributors in the year ahead.  Two weeks ago, Matt reported on significant issues in the labor/employment arena.  Last week, Pam reported on Environmental, Health and Safefy (EH&S) issues

To round out the series, I’ll be

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at ACI’s 2nd Annual Consumer Products Regulation & Litigation Conference in Chicago.  During the conference, I moderated a panel of in-house attorneys that worked at General Electric, Williams-Sonoma, Deere & Co., and Nordstrom.  One of the issues that always comes up at conferences involving litigation is “e-discovery.” 

On March 13, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced the initial draft list of “priority products” under the state’s Safer Consumer Products program.  Once the list is finalized, the program will requires companies to determine if there are less toxic alternatives to the chemicals in these consumer products.

The three “priority

The chemical industry’s Responsible Care Security Code has qualified for five years of continued protection under the SAFETY Act, run by the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”).  Responsible Care was first recognized by DHS in 2009 as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (“SAFETY”) Act of 2002 and was

From a corporate compliance/litigation perspective, my watchlist includes 3-D printing (“additive manufacturing”) and the rise of consumer class actions particularly in the area of food and beverage and nutritional/dietary supplements and the impact those cases might have on all manufacturers and distributors.

3-D Printing / Additive Manufacturing:

Almost every day, I see some sort

The decision to purchase the assets of a manufacturer raises a host of legal issues, including labor/employment, environmental, and product liability.  We thought we would do a group post to describe the first things that come to mind for each of us when one of our clients considers such a deal.

Nicole:  As a

Last month, I had lunch with a friend who is an in-house lawyer who oversees intellectual property (IP) litigation for a diversfied international manfucturer.  During our lunch, we discussed the impact that 3-D printing will have on the marketplace over the next few decades.  The business and legal implications are wide ranging as some believe

The Manufacturing Law Blog provides timely commentary on issues of importance to manufacturers and distributors.  Contributors from the law firm of Robinson & Cole LLP are corporate compliance and litigation attorney, Jeff White; environmental, health and safety attorney, Pam Elkow;  and labor and employment attorney, Nicole Bernabo.

In late June, I had

California’s legislature has moved closer to approving a measure that may significantly curb lawsuits filed against manufacturers and distributors under California Proposition 65 (“Prop. 65”).  A California assemblyman, Mike Gatto, has spearheaded an effort to pass an amendment to Prop. 65 that would allow a manufacturer or distributor to avoid both lawsuits and governmental enforcement

* The Manufacturing Law Blog provides timely commentary on issues of importance to manufacturers and distributors.  Contributors from the law firm of Robinson & Cole LLP are corporate compliance and litigation attorney, Jeff White; environmental, health and safety attorney, Pam Elkow; and labor and employment attorney, Nicole Bernabo.

Each week, Chris Matthews