Food, Drug & Cosmetic Law Section

Larissa Bergin

Larissa Bergin of Washington, DC is the new chair of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section.

Bergin is a partner of Jones Day. Her practice addresses the antitrust concerns arising from mergers and acquisitions matters, joint ventures, federal investigations, and commercial practices.

A 12-year member of the State Bar, Bergin most recently served as secretary of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section. She also is a member of the Antitrust Law Section and the Membership Committee.

Bergin graduated from Boston University, magna cum laude, and earned her law degree from Catholic University of America School of Law, magna cum laude.

Section History

The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) established the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section in 1945 as one of the first sections of the NYSBA.

The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section was formed in 1945 following enactment of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 (“the Act”).  This NYSBA section was the first of its kind in the nation, serving as the forum for those experts in this field in the private and public sectors.  The Chair cited the importance of the increasing the bar’s knowledge of the Act, the work of the Food and Drug Administration, the intended consumer benefits, and the enhancement of technical and ethical standards of industries involved.

“The action of the Association, setting up a Section on Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law, is worthy of special notice not only as this is the first Section of its kind, but also because it will tend to give this branch of law the prestige, the dignity, and the attention which it so clearly merits.”  – Charles Wesley Dunn, first Chair, on the creation of the Section.

In addition to food, drug, and cosmetic issues, committees were also created on related fields of practice.  Within several years of creation, the Section successfully urged creation of a Food and Drug Committee within the Administrative Law Section of the American Bar Association.  Over the years, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section’s committees have evolved to meet the times.

In its first year, the Section began professional education programs continued today on legislative and administrative developments, ramifications of amendments to the Act, enforcement procedures, approval and marketing in interstate commerce, advertising compliance, and product liability issues.  The focal point for the Section’s professional education has always remained the NYSBA’s Annual Meeting, supplemented with specialty topics and events throughout the year.