Laurent Badoux advises clients in the private and public sector on a variety of employment law matters. His broad range of experience encompasses all facets of litigation (including class and collective actions), collective bargaining agreement negotiation and arbitration, unfair labor practice trials, and the defense of administrative charges involving numerous agencies. He has experience with:

• Wage and hour audits and compliance
• Wrongful termination
• Workplace discrimination
• Harassment
• Unfair competition
• Trade secrets
• Restrictive covenants
• Breach of contract
• Fiduciary duties of corporate executives and officers
• Labor relations
• Workplace safety
• Contingent workforce arrangements

In his general employment law litigation practice, Laurent handles claims involving:

• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
• The Americans with Disabilities Act
• The Arizona Employment Protection Act
• The Arizona Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act
• The Arizona Minimum Wage Act
• The Arizona Wage Act
• The Class Action Fairness Act
• The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
• The Defend Trade Secrets Act
• The Family and Medical Leave Act
• The Fair Labor Standards Act
• The National Labor Relations Act (Incl. LMRA & LMRDA)
• Nevada Wage & Hour Laws
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
• The Uniform Trade Secrets Act (state variations)

He appears in state and federal courts at the district and appellate levels, and also practices before the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations Board. Additionally, he has participated in proceedings with the Arizona Department of Economic Security, the Office of Labor Commissioner of the state of Nevada, the Industrial Commission of Arizona, and the Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health.

Laurent also assists clients with conducting legal compliance audits, providing preventive training to employees and managers, and drafting employee handbooks, policies and domestic and foreign employment contracts for expatriates and intra-company transfer employees.

His clients span the following industries:

• Retail
• Hospitality
• Public sector
• Transportation
• Healthcare
• Shipping
• Sanitation
• Construction
• Consumer services

He is a member of Littler's International Employment Law, Wage and Hour, Traditional Labor law and Hospitality Industry practice groups.

Additionally, Laurent was an adjunct professor of hospitality law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In law school, Laurent was an intern law clerk for the Hon. Nancy Fiora, U.S. Magistrate Judge, District of Arizona. He also was a recipient of the National Order of the Barristers, Order of the Advocates, and a member of the Emory Moot Court Board of Directors.

Sarah Brew provides clients with a unique 360-degree perspective on the legal issues and risks facing food companies, coupled with practical business-sensitive advice. As one of the country’s leading food litigators, Sarah effectively defends food industry clients against consumer fraud class actions and represents food processors, distributors and retailers in foodborne illness cases and supply chain disputes arising from recalls and contaminated products. She is also a nationally known food regulatory lawyer, counseling clients across the gamut of regulations, compliance and enforcement actions. Sarah is nationally ranked by Chambers as a “USA Top Lawyer,” and she leads Faegre Drinker’s nationally ranked Food Litigation and Regulatory Practice.

Jonathan Cohen is a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C. office, where he is a member of the Insurance Recovery and Counseling practice group. His practice focuses on representing policyholders in obtaining insurance coverage in complex, multiparty disputes involving product liability, product recalls, cyber events, and supply chain issues. 

Jonathan has worked extensively with food, supplements, technology, and consumer product companies. He has successfully recovered insurance proceeds on behalf of Fortune 500 and smaller companies for a broad array of consumer product risks. He served as lead counsel in numerous matters involving food contamination and recall losses, Proposition 65 claims, cyber-related losses, advertising and IP claims, supply chain losses, and first-party property losses. Jonathan also has worked at the forefront of issues involving the overlap of insurance and bankruptcy, recovering billions of dollars through representations of debtors, claimant committees, a future claimant’s representative, and post-bankruptcy trusts.

Jonathan also represents clients in managing their business risks and advises clients with respect to insurance, indemnity agreements, and other contract-related aspects of their risk management strategies. He brings a unique perspective to client counseling, drawing on both his legal experience and his Ph.D. in organizational sociology to advance his clients’ business approach to addressing risk.

He also regularly represents civil rights organizations and individuals in high-stakes appellate litigation. He has filed briefs for individuals, consumer and policyholder groups, asbestos trusts, and civil rights organizations in more than a dozen US Supreme Court cases, as well as before the Fourth and Ninth Circuit US Courts of Appeal and state high courts.

Veronica Colas counsels clients on the regulations and policy issues affecting food companies from farm to table.

Using her keen awareness of today's class action litigation environment, Veronica helps develop new products, label claims, and advertising materials. She has a deep understanding of both current and forthcoming food labeling and production requirements ranging from nutrition and menu labeling, to the regulatory issues surrounding bioengineered foods and organic food production.

Veronica provides clear advice and practical solutions for compliance with labeling, advertising, and safety regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Consumer Product Safety Commission. She has significant experience in helping clients navigate regulatory enforcement challenges, such as recalls, Warning Letters, import detentions, and investigations by the Federal Trade Commission. Veronica works closely with trade associations and food companies to craft comments and develop strategies in response to public policy issues such as agency rulemaking and nutrition policy. She represents all segments of the food industry, including manufacturers, retailers, restaurants, and food service companies.

She is a regular speaker and contributor to industry publications, including providing training sessions to corporate clients on Food Law 101, food labeling and marketing, and claim substantiation.

Elizabeth has worked with every segment of the food industry, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, and food service operators, as well as their trade associations.

Her work on behalf of food industry clients with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) since its inception and her understanding of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems provides her with the experience and perspective needed to counsel clients on how to comply with new requirements under the law. Elizabeth is also a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and has completed the FSPCA PCQI training.

Elizabeth understands how laws, regulations, and guidance documents are developed, interpreted, and enforced. Her extensive knowledge enables clients to prevent or respond to enforcement actions such as Warning Letters, Import Alerts, and agency investigations. She helps clients in determining whether an RFR report is necessary and whether a recall is warranted. If so, she helps manage the recall to minimize business impacts.

Elizabeth provides real-time advice during factory inspections, helps clients prepare 483 responses, and drafts inspection manuals. She assists clients in lawfully and creatively promoting their products; such as the development of labels, claims, and website and promotional campaigns. Elizabeth also supports clients in advertising disputes and with responses to FTC and Attorney General investigations.

Elizabeth helps clients stay informed of and ahead of public policy issues and develops strategies for effective advocacy before regulators. She also counsels clients on compliance with Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards, testing and certification requirements, and reporting obligations.

Elizabeth is also a member of the Food and Dietary Supplements Committee of the Food and Drug Law Institute.

Svetlana S. Gans is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where she helps clients navigate complex consumer protection (advertising, marketing, privacy, and right to repair) and competition related regulatory proceedings before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, and other enforcement bodies, and provides strategic advice on related public policy issues.

Ms. Gans previously served with distinction as Chief of Staff to Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen at the FTC.  As the agency chief of staff, Ms. Gans managed and oversaw agency operations, including bureau and office heads reporting to the Chairman, a seven-member office staff, and an agency budget of over $300 million.  She also served as the Acting Chairman’s key advisor on consumer protection and competition investigations and litigation, working with a diverse team of attorneys and economists to preserve competition and protect U.S. consumers.  She created, executed, and oversaw several strategic initiatives for the agency, including the agency process reform, regulatory reform, and data security transparency initiatives.  Previously, Ms. Gans had the unique experience of serving in both litigating bureaus of the FTC: the Bureau of Competition and the Bureau of Consumer Protection.  Before joining Gibson Dunn, Ms. Gans served as the Vice President & Associate General Counsel at NCTA, the Internet & Television Association, where she helped lead the association’s consumer protection and competition policy work.

Ms. Gans was recently named as one of Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” for 2023.  Ms. Gans is a frequent speaker on FTC policy and enforcement issues, including FTC rulemaking.  Ms. Gans is also active  in the ABA Antitrust Law Section (“Section”), currently serving as the Section’s Committee Officer.  In that role, Ms. Gans overseas the operations of 28 Section substantive committees, including committees covering consumer protection, privacy, corporate counselling, and federal civil enforcement.

Ms. Gans is a keen supporter of, and mentor to, law students and young lawyers interested in antitrust and consumer protection law.  Ms. Gans helped create the Section’s  Young Lawyer Representative Program, now in its 12th year, and the Section’s Law Ambassador Program, each aimed at developing and promoting the next generation of consumer protection and competition attorneys.  Ms. Gans also serves on the Federal Communication Bar’s Executive Committee and as a co-chair of its Diversity Pipeline Program, an initiative designed to develop and promote underrepresented law students in the bar.  Ms. Gans also serves on Gibson Dunn’s Professional Development Committee and is active with the WICT Network – an organization dedicated to developing women leaders in the media, entertainment, and technology industries.

Ms. Gans served as a Judicial Intern to the Honorable John L. Kane, Jr., while in law school, and as an Honors Program Paralegal for the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division, Merger Taskforce, prior to law school.  Ms. Gans received her law degree with high honors from the University of Denver College of Law and earned her undergraduate degrees cum laude from Boston University.

Jennifer Hatcher serves as Chief Public Policy Officer and Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for FMI - the Food Industry Association, overseeing federal, state and regulatory efforts on public policy, legislative and political issues impacting the supermarket industry.  She has held this position since April 2009 and has been at FMI in the government relations area since March 1998. 

Prior to coming to FMI, Jennifer served as Chief of Staff to United States Congressman Spencer Bachus (AL).  Jennifer also served as Special Assistant and White House Liaison at the Department of the Treasury during President George H.W. Bush’s Administration.  Jennifer has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Communication from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Government from Johns Hopkins University.

Jennifer has participated in a variety of congressional briefings and panels and has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Committee on Ways and Means and Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Gregory Husisian is a partner and litigation attorney with Foley & Lardner LLP. Gregory is chair of the firm’s International Trade and National Security Practice, focusing on both international trade and international regulatory issues.

Before entering private practice, Gregory clerked for the Honorable Jerry E. Smith of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ashley Nyquist guides clients through their most sensitive, high-stakes matters, including government investigations, independent investigations, and internal investigations into issues posing enterprise-level risk.

Ashley regularly represents clients -- from the largest multi-national companies to individuals -- in connection with government and internal investigations into alleged fraud, corruption, and other criminal conduct or issues of regulatory concern. She has considerable experience navigating complex, multi-dimensional matters involving parallel criminal, civil, and reputational risks.

Ashley routinely handles highly sensitive reviews and investigations related to workplace misconduct and institutional culture, including:

• Leading internal investigations for corporate and non-profit clients related to allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment, discrimination, and other misconduct by executives and other leaders;
• Conducting independent investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct; and
• Guiding clients through proactive workplace culture assessments designed to mitigate risk.

Ashley has worked with clients from a variety of sectors and industries, including technology, consumer products, food processing, financial services, life sciences, and education.

Ashley’s pro bono work includes representing individual criminal defendants in state court.

Before practicing law, Ashley taught high school English in rural China.

Paul Ray advises clients on regulatory opportunities and challenges and helps them formulate and execute advocacy strategies for their regulatory policy priorities before the executive branch and Congress.

During the first Trump Administration, Paul held various senior positions at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, including as acting, and then Senate-confirmed, head of the office. As OIRA Administrator (the "regulations czar"), Paul supervised the review of hundreds of regulations from across the government, drafted numerous executive orders governing the regulatory process, and led the Administration’s regulatory reform effort. As a result of this experience, Paul is well-positioned to help clients understand and achieve regulatory policy priorities in the context of the government’s regulatory agenda and ongoing reform efforts.

Most recently, Paul was also the Director of the Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation. In that role, he supervised the formulation of the Foundation’s economic and regulatory policy recommendations and provided technical assistance to congressional committees and staff regarding legislative changes to the regulatory process. In addition to his role at The Heritage Foundation, Paul also served as a Senior Advisor at a strategic advisory firm. Before his time in government, Paul practiced law at a law firm in Washington, specializing in administrative law matters.

Prior to his role at the White House, Paul was Counselor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor. There he led departmental efforts in high-profile rulemakings and helped formulate the Department’s legal positions and strategy.

Paul served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and as a law clerk to the Honorable Debra Livingston of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Paul is a thought leader in the conservative legal movement and is a frequent commentator and speaker on regulatory policy and reform matters, including at law schools, professional gatherings, and other venues. He is the Chairman of Innovations in Peacebuilding International and the Regulatory Process Working Group of the Federalist Society’s Regulatory Transparency Project and a public member of the Administrative Conference of the United States. Paul is also an adjunct lecturer at the Hillsdale College School of Government.

• Performing preventive gap analyses and analyzing specific events to determine regulatory and legal obligations and to chart a long-term course of action to correct and prevent re-occurrence;

• Facilitating investigations and responding to potential product concerns, including allegations of food fraud, a foodborne illness outbreak, and other potential food safety concerns;

• Preparing and implementing supplier standards and supply chain agreements for multiple global restaurant chains and large retailers and steering transactions for the manufacturing and distribution of food, including a series of agreements with over $5 billion in annual purchases.

Kate Noble Wegrzyn (pronounced “Way Grin”) is a partner and business lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP.  Kate is chair of the firm’s Supply Chain team. She is also a member of the firm’s Manufacturing Sector Advisory Board and is a member of the Food & Beverage Team. Kate is the former Editor in Chief of the LexisNexis published treatise entitled “International Agency and Distribution Agreements.”

Kate’s areas of focus include drafting commercial contracts and counseling businesses on supply chain matters, including force majeure issues, pricing, procurement strategies, dealer and customer arrangements, licensing issues, and logistics and transportation. Clients appreciate Kate’s practical, business-focused approach to commercial counseling and contract negotiation.