Covington & Burling LLP‘s EU regulatory team assists chemical manufacturers, downstream users and trade associations on complex policy issues related to REACH, CLP and various other regulations, and prepares clients for new chemical requirements and policies. The team work closely with the firm's public policy practice to provide advice on the defence of particular substances and products in administrative and legislative proceedings. The practice is led by Cándido García Molyneux, who focuses on pan-European environmental and product regulations and policies, particularly those concerning REACH, climate change and deforestation. Peter Bogaert brings experience of regulations under EU and national laws, while Bart Van Vooren leads on cases concerning compliance with the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
EU regulatory: Chemicals in Belgium
Covington & Burling LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Cándido García Molyneux
Autres avocats clés:
Peter Bogaert; Bart Van Vooren
Principaux clients
European Chemical Industry Council
EFPIA
Principaux dossiers
- Representing the EFPIA in its legal challenge against the extended producer responsibility obligations of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive before the General Court of the EU.
- Advised CEFIC on the risks and opportunities of success in different chemical law litigation cases before EU Courts, and offered solutions for a constructive dialogue with the European Chemicals Agency and the European Commission.
Fieldfisher
Fieldfisher's dedicated EU regulatory team provides compliance and litigation support to clients within the chemicals industry. The broad spectrum of advice the practice offers includes assisting clients with regulatory compliance, data sharing, REACH implementation and compliance issues, and breach of contractual and legal requirements. In addition, the team assists clients with product regulation, advising them on the classification, packaging and labelling of chemical substances. Koen Van Maldegem is noted for his corporate, competition, public procurement and contract law experience, handling biocide-related matters and exemption procedures. Maud Grunchard advises clients on EU regulatory matters, while Simon Englebert represents clients during litigation procedures, with experience in regulatory compliance and reach regulations. David Haverbeke departed the firm in November 2025, following Claudio Mereu and Natalie Konings' exits in September 2025.
Autres avocats clés:
Koen Van Maldegem; Maud Grunchard; Simon Englebert
Les références
‘The team demonstrates thorough knowledge of relevant legislation, including Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, as retained in UK law, and guidance from the HSE and CRD. Comfort engaging with technical data, including toxicology, environmental fate and residues, positions them well for cases where science and law intersect.’
‘Proven capability in managing disputes against regulators. They are well placed to manage the regulatory divergence between the UK and EU.’
‘I found the individuals I worked with at Fieldfisher to be friendly, professional and approachable. What stood out most was their ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly and without overwhelming legal language, it made the process easier to navigate.’
Principaux clients
ADCR Reach Consortium
Agria
Alcohol Task Force
Arche Consulting
Ascenza
Barclay
Carus
Centro Reach SRL
Chemours
EU Focus Group
Finchimica
Gowan
JT Agro
EU Mancozeb Task Force
Manica
Nippon Soda
Reach Consortia
Rotam Agro/Albaugh
Sharda Cropchem Limited
Suterra
Trece
Goodyear
Hexion
MARA Manganese REACH Administration
Vestaron
Cyazofamid Task Force – Manica,/Euro TSA/Diachem
Kanesho Soil Treatment
Tessenderlo
Life Scientific
EU MCPA Task Force
Principaux dossiers
- Providing ongoing legal assistance to Chemours in the context of the ongoing restrictions of PFAS under REACH.
- Advising the Alcohol Task Force on several matters, including task force management, regulatory and competition law advice on data sharing, and compliance under the Biocidal Products Regulation.
- Assisted over 40 REACH consortia in their day-to-day activities, ranging from compliance to contract, legal and advocacy support.
Mayer Brown
Drawing on the firm’s international presence, particularly its UK environmental team, Mayer Brown works closely with regulatory scientists and legal consultants to advise clients on UK, EU and international chemical regulations, including REACH, GHS and CLP. The firm advises trade associations, consortia and corporate clients in proceedings before the Board of Appeals and European Court of Justice, also preparing them for new EU policy compliance. Practice head Jean-Philippe Montfort provides strategic, advisory and advocacy services related to product defence and related litigation. Pavlina Chopova-Leprêtre represents clients in litigation matters concerning chemicals, harmonised classifications and labelling, product defence, and plant protection products. Other key names include Nikoleta Kyriazopoulou and Javier Saladich.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jean-Philippe Montfort
Autres avocats clés:
Pavlina Chopova-Leprêtre; Nikoleta Kyriazopoulou; Javier Saladich
Les références
‘Excellent EU regulatory team, providing focused and very high quality legal advice.’
‘Jean-Philippe Montfort is an outstanding regulatory lawyer with a wealth of experience, and he has established a great, very professional and engaged team in Brussels.’
‘Pavlina Chopova-Leprêtre is amazing! She is a true professional with deep knowledge of what she does, and always delivers great results on time.’
Principaux clients
3M
Albemarle Corporation
BASF SE
Dow Chemical Company
EcoBeautyScore Association
Cosmetics Europe
EuroChem Group
International Fragrance Association
L’Oréal
Plastics Europe
Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers Association
Tobacco and Nicotine Products Chemicals Group
Unilever Plc
Principaux dossiers
- Appeared for the Titanium Dioxide Industry Association, as well as Evonik, before the Court of Justice of the European Union, which dismissed appeals from the French Republic and the European Commission and upheld the annulment of the classification of titanium dioxide in certain powder forms as a carcinogenic substance.
- Achieved a victory on behalf of BASF before the Board of Appeal of ECHA, obtaining the annulment of a substance evaluation decision related to bis(2-propylheptyl) phthalate.
- Represented The Dow Chemical Company in connection with the divestment of its laminating adhesives and hot sealed coatings business to Arkema S.A.
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP covers a wide array of matters within the EU regulatory field, including cases where companies are challenging adverse decisions by public authorities, also handling commercial challenges for chemical companies. The group offers expertise in REACH and CLP chemical legislation and matters related to biocides, pesticides and agricultural biotechnology. The team is increasingly mandated in relation to environmental and trade issues, supply chain issues and comprehensive ESG assessments, including climate related litigation. Practice head Ruxandra Cana advises clients on EU regulatory law and litigation matters, with emphasis on product, environmental and sustainability regulation. Darren Abrahams helps clients throughout the chemical and life sciences supply chain, defending products through strategic advice advocacy, and Eléonore Mullier assists clients at the interface between EU regulations and cross-sector issues. Zanda Romata is noted for her compliance expertise.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ruxandra Cana
Autres avocats clés:
Darren Abrahams; Eléonore Mullier; Zanda Romata
Les références
‘Key knowledge on chemical legislation, including recent developments and interpretations.’
‘Darren Abrahams provides clear, precise and quick interpretation of legal questions. Give trustworthy guidance and recommendations.’
‘Zanda Romata has very good attention to details and makes sure all guidance gives is updated to the latest precedence set.’
Principaux clients
Global Silicones Council
BSEF
Oxidative Substances Industry Coalition
CEFIC
LAT Nitrogen Piesteritz GmbH
Resorcinol Task Force
United Initiators GmbH
Alzchem Trostberg GmbH
DSM Nutritional Products
I-Tech
EFfCI
ADVANSIX
A&O Shearman
A&O Shearman utilises its REACH network, which spans 15 jurisdictions across Europe and the US, to assist chemical manufacturers on REACH compliance and CLP regulations-related issues. The team has notable expertise across the renewable, chemicals, electronics and life science sectors, and also offers a dedicated environmental law team. The practice's expertise covers advisory work and transactions, risk analysis and contentious matters. Practice head Gauthier van Thuyne advises clients on compliance with chemical, supply and value chain, waste and secondary product, and climate change regulations. Fee Goossens and Alexander Pirard advise on complex environmental, regulatory and public law matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gauthier van Thuyne
Autres avocats clés:
Fee Goossens; Alexander Pirard
Squire Patton Boggs
Squire Patton Boggs has notable expertise in chemical and environmental regulations, and the practice provides advocacy, regulatory compliance, and litigation services, representing clients before EU courts and regulatory bodies. Despite the departure of Wolfgang Maschek in September 2025, the firm has expanded its capabilities in chemical and environmental policy with a significant number of new hires from Fieldfisher in January 2025. Gerard McElwee brings expertise in chemical regulation and Peter Sellar excels in EU litigation, together they lead a seven-strong team while complemented by Thomas Delille who has broad experience across myriad chemical regulatory regimes.
Autres avocats clés:
Gerard McElwee; Peter Sellar; Thomas Delille; Manon Ombredane; Nayelly Landeros
Les références
‘The team that is following us is extremely knowledgeable, professional and coordinated. They always reply to our requests and deliver the work on time.’
‘The individuals we work with, namely Peter Sellar, Manon Ombredane and Nayelly Landeros, have outstanding expertise and provide us with extremely useful advice. They are always available to reply to our requests and arrange calls.’
‘Across the Brussels and UK-based team members they have extensive expertise and experience of the wide range of chemical regulation applicable to manufacturers and importers of both chemicals and manufactured products.’
Principaux clients
Silver Task Force
Evonik Operations GmbH/Wacker Chemie AG/Cabot Corporation
European Manufacturers of Expanded Polystyrene
FuelsEurope – European Fuels Manufacturer Association
Olin Corporation
Principaux dossiers
- Represented three global manufacturers of the treated silica SAS-HMDZ in an action for annulment before the General Court of the European Court of Justice, against the harmonised classification of the substance as STOT RE 2.
- Assisted FuelsEurope in a variety of EU policy and regulatory matters affecting the operations of its members.
Ashurst LLP
The regulatory chemicals team at Ashurst LLP represents multinational companies and trade associations in complex regulatory matters, focusing on emerging and strategic policy areas, also representing clients before the EU courts. Following Denis Waelbroeck‘s retirement in May 2025, Irene Antypas has taken over as practice head. She specialises in EU competition and regulatory law governing the life sciences, chemical, agro-chemical, and environmental sectors, and represents clients in litigation concerning plant protection substance renewals.
Responsables de la pratique:
Irene Antypas
Les références
‘Responsive and quick to understand key issues.’
‘Irene Antypas is responsive, highly motivated and technically excellent lawyer with perfect understanding of wider commercial context.’
‘Good understanding of our fairly specific sector, good feedback and availability. Good interaction and knowledge sharing.’
Principaux clients
FMC Corporation
ISK Biosciences
Association Internationale de la Savonnerie, de la Détergence et des Produits d’entretien
European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink and Artists’ Colours Industry
AnimalhealthEurope
Croplife Europe
CropLife International
CropLife America
European Chemical Industry Council
European Petrochemical Association
Principaux dossiers
- Representing EBU in an EU Court case examining the scope of environmental information access laws under EU and Irish legislation.
- Acting for industry clients in two EU Court appeals addressing significant regulatory challenges, with broad cross-border implications for the agrochemicals and chemicals sectors.
- Advising a European industry association on the legal compliance of sustainability product logos under revised EU consumer protection rules.
DLA Piper
DLA Piper‘s client base includes petrochemical, specialist chemical and pharmaceutical-focused chemical companies. The team advises clients on matters concerning trade, sustainability and ESG, emerging environmental markers, and global environmental governance. Co-head Anna Dias advises private sector clients and governments on trade remedy investigations and EU economic sanctions. Fellow co-head Bob Martens assists public and private sector clients with matters of administrative law.
Responsables de la pratique:
Anna Dias; Bob Martens
Principaux clients
BASF
SABIC
LyondellBasell
Lanxess
ICL
Shell Petrochemicals
ExxonMobil
Wego Chemicals
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Indaver on operations including landfill management, incineration, physico-chemical waste treatment, and advanced Plastics2Chemicals recycling initiatives for polystyrene and polyolefins.
- Advising the Belgian subsidiary of BASF, BASF Antwerpen, on its role as participant and developer of the Antwerp@C Carbon Capture Utilisation & Storage project in the Port of Antwerp.
- Assisted ICL Europe as the complainant in the preparation of an anti-dumping complaint against imports of phosphorous acid from China.
Jones Day
Jones Day utilises its global network to advise on EU and national regulatory law. The team handles matters related to REACH registration and authorisation, product defence, and the introduction of new products into the EU market, specifically those containing inorganic chemicals. Following the retirement of Ursula Schliessner in December 2024, Preslava Dilkova has taken over as practice head, with notable expertise in the compliance of industrial and consumer products with CLP regulations. Iacopo Zonca is another key team member.
Responsables de la pratique:
Preslava Dilkova
Autres avocats clés:
Iacopo Zonca
Les références
‘Preslava Dilkova is excellent, extremely knowledgeable and very responsive.’
‘Preslava Dilkova demonstrates knowledge, consistency and lateral thinking.’
Principaux clients
Chromium Trioxide REACH Authorization consortium
Iron Oxides and related substances REACH registration consortium
Ethylbenzene REACH registration consortium
Gluconic acid and its derivative REACH registration consortium
TCPP REACH registration consortium
CTACSub 2
E 172 Consortium
LANXESS Corporation
Sorbitol and Maltitol Joint Registration Group
Styrene REACH registration consortium
Unsaturated Polyester and Resins Consortium
Principaux dossiers
- Managing the CTACSub Consortium and its subgroup, CTACSub2, which is composed of companies from various parts of the supply and use chain of chromium trioxide, consisting of importers and formulators.
- Represented LANXESS in litigation before the Board of Appeal of the European Chemicals Agency in challenging a compliance check decision, which erroneously assessed a tonnage downgrade under REACH.
Keller and Heckman LLP
Keller and Heckman LLP provides environmental regulatory advice, with expertise in legal compliance, waste and pollution, and the circular economy. The team assist clients on matters concerning REACH, CLP, biocides, pesticides and fertilisers. Practice had Ales Bartl collaborates with the firm's EU Food and Food Packaging practice to advise clients on REACH, CLP, and product safety. Another key name is Alejandra Martínez Perea.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ales Bartl
Autres avocats clés:
Alejandra Martínez Perea
Les références
‘Keller and Heckman stands out for its exceptional expertise in environmental and chemical regulation. Their team combines deep legal and technical knowledge with the ability to clearly explain complex EU regulatory proposals and their impact on industry.’
‘Their reputation as speakers at conferences and seminars also enhances their credibility and visibility. Importantly, they engage with stakeholders in a collaborative and open manner, which makes them a trusted partner.’
‘The individuals we have worked with at Keller and Heckman distinguish themselves through a rare combination of expertise, clarity and responsiveness. They are able to translate complex regulatory issues into clear, practical insights that are accessible to non-specialists.’