EU regulatory: Chemicals

Steptoe LLP

Steptoe LLP boasts ‘good knowledge and extensive experience of the chemicals sector’, representing clients in litigation and providing advice on EU chemicals legislation, especially REACH, CLP, and evolving regulations related to the EU Green Deal. The practice works closely with the other offices of the firm across Europe and the US. Ruxandra Cana leads the team, with vast expertise on environmental and sustainability regulations, as well as climate change related matters. Eléonore Mullier and Darren Abrahams are both key to the team, with proficiency across REACH and classification matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘The team provides a unique set of expertise in terms of depth and breadth, which came from dealing with a divergent set of industries with different business, commercial, and market dynamics. As a result, the insights and advice they provide are well thought out and tailored to our business concerns. From my experience working with similar firms, Steptoe stands out for giving useful advice that is actionable and pragmatic. ’
‘Darren Abrahams is our connection with the firm. Darren's keen ability to dissect complex legal/regulatory concerns to small, bite-sized pieces, and to explain options when the paths forward appear murky has, time and again, proven to be the key to steer product development, regulatory defense activities, for our businesses.'
'Zanda Romata of the Brussels office is super smart and highly creative, which, when combined with her broad knowledge about the EU regulatory considerations as applied to chemicals, made her a very dependable and helpful advisor to us.'
‘The team's strengths are the good communication skills and the uncomplicated and rapid response and feedback to current issues. Information on new developments is provided quickly and accompanied by a competent explanation. The documentation is always well-structured and soundly based. ’
‘Darren Abrahams: He has a huge amount of experience and an eye for the pig picture. We highly appreciate his professionalism and his practical and balanced approaches, which he always develops in close consultation with us.'
‘Strong knowledge of EU chemical legislation. Focus on industry. Challenge the regulations and authorities' points of view while safeguarding compliance.’
‘Darren Abrahams has very good knowledge of chemical legislations & implications for industry and very good communication skills.’ ’
‘Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Moullier, and Zanda Romata show complementary skills when it comes to complex matters.’

Key clients

Global Silicones Council
Lat Nitrogen Piesteritz Gmbh
Dragon Chemical Europe Gmbh
United Initiators Gmbh
DSM Nutritional Products
Alzchem Trostberg Gmbh
Cefic
Fuels Europe
Peracetic Acid Registration Group (PAR)

Work highlights

Advised Global Silicones on all legal issues incumbent on the association, including support for the global status of and global challenges facing silicones, a class of products essential for the transition to the circular economy and green technologies.
Represented Dragon Chemical Europe GmBH in a succesful appeal before the Board of Appeal of the European Chemicals Agency. The case concerns the Agency’s decision to request testing on substance on 5-amino-o-cresol.
Represented Lat Nitrogen Piesteritz Gmbh; Cornerstone Chemical Company; Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Puławy S.A; OCI Nitrogen BV; Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Limited in an action for annulment before the General Court of the EU against the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) decision to identify melamine as a Substance of Very High Concern under the EU REACH Regulation.