GET POLITICAL

Policymaking is critical to a brand or organization achieving its goals, yet most do not recognize the importance until it’s too late.

I develop proactive policy strategies that won’t break the bank by:

• Assessing your organizational goals and identifying the policy levers to achieve them

• Recruiting lobbyists, where they will be most effective

• Developing robust media plans that bolster your policy goals  

If you find yourself on the defensive. I can help you by:

• Assessing the risks to your brand from both a legal and PR perspective

• Recommending a strategy to fight back, either “behind the scenes” or publicly

• Referring you to the right litigators and / or lobbyists to defend your brand

• Developing a proactive media strategy, where appropriate  

My proven track record of effective policy and legal strategies includes:

• Leading an advocacy campaign to completely ban a dangerous category of “alcoholic energy drinks” at the federal level, saving countless lives.

• Testifying in Congress, to the House Judiciary Committee, in support of state-based alcohol policies.

• Exposing shady dealings in Washington State by the nation’s most powerful food lobby by writing about under-handed tactics by Big Food to stop GMO labeling efforts at the state level. As a result, fines were levied by the state attorney general.

• Taking on the State of California through legal representation of numerous plant-based dairy brands that have been harassed by regulators doing the bidding of the powerful dairy lobby.

• Stepping in when Miyoko’s was sued by a misguided attorney who filed a consumer deception class action for the company’s butter labeling. I was able to convince the attorney to drop the case.

As Executive Director of the Plant Based Foods Association:

• Successfully defended against numerous meat and dairy lobby bills at the federal and state levels

• Engaged FDA officials in constructive dialogue regarding labeling issues, fending off regulatory action by the agency

• Successfully litigated to stop a bad meat labeling law in Mississippi, and filed a similar lawsuit in Oklahoma

• Stopped Tyson from using the phrase “plant-based” on non-vegan products by threatening suit

• Secured the governor’s veto of a milk labeling bill in Virginia

• Coordinated, drafted and released voluntary labeling standards for various plant-based food categories

• Hosted a virtual briefing for California members of the legislature, showcasing 8 California-based member companies

• Conceived of and advanced a project to position the plant-based foods industry as an opportunity for American farmers to ensure more domestically-grown ingredients for members.