Veronica Colas | Washington, D.C. | Hogan Lovells

Veronica Colas

Counsel Global Regulatory

Colas Veronica

Veronica Colas
Colas Veronica
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights and events
quote mark

"She is smart, knows the area well, always responds promptly and is attuned to commercial considerations when providing guidance."

Chambers USA 2021

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. As companies seek to communicate about the health, nutrition, or environmental benefits of their products, Veronica helps them navigate the regulatory landscape. 

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, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and states. Veronica is a go-to on state food packaging laws, such as the California "recyclable" requirements and extended producer responsibility. 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.

quote mark

"She is smart, knows the area well, always responds promptly and is attuned to commercial considerations when providing guidance."

Chambers USA 2021

Representative experience

Developed comments on every labeling and nutrition-related issue in the last three administrations

Advocacy with FDA and the White House Office of Management and Budget, resulting in the agency establishing a different labeled serving size for a food category than originally proposed

Crafted successful requests for FDA enforcement discretion related to new nutrition labeling rules and removal of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) from the food supply

 

Advocacy with Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) leadership on alcohol beverage labeling modernization, resulting in increased flexibility in final rule

 

Counsel on environmental issues affecting foods, including the FTC Green Guides, California's "recyclable" claim law, state minimum recycled content laws, and extended producer responsibility

 

Negotiated private settlements to threatened litigation over food labeling claims

 

Advise on labeling changes to mitigate class action litigation risk

 

Addressed to FDA's satisfaction potential safety concerns about a caffeinated supplement

Helped obtain dismissal with prejudice, on federal preemption grounds, if a proposed consumer class action alleging wrongful labeling of probiotic products

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2011
  • B.A., Georgetown University, magna cum laude, 2008
Bar admissions and qualifications
  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia (inactive)

Recognition

Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation, Associates to watch (Nationwide), Associates to watch

Chambers USA

2019-2022
Food & Drugs (Washington, D.C.), Rising Star

Super Lawyers

2016-2020
Pro Bono Attorney of the Month

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

August 2012