Akin Gump Expands Health Industry Practice With Addition of FDA Partner

(Washington, D.C.) – Mark Mansour has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as a partner in the health industry practice in Washington, focusing on FDA law and policy, the firm announced today.

For nearly two decades, Mr. Mansour has advised organizations in the food, pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, cosmetics and life sciences industries on regulatory and public policy issues relating to nutrition, dietary supplements, food additives, pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, biotechnology and nanotechnology.  He focuses on helping clients secure regulatory approvals, maintain compliance and address key public policy issues in the United States and in key global markets.  His clients include multinational food, pharmaceutical, medical device and agribusiness companies, as well as trade associations.    

Before entering private practice, Mr. Mansour was assistant general counsel and director of global regulatory affairs at two of the world’s largest food companies, where he led the development and implementation of the companies’ global regulatory strategies, chairing a multidisciplinary team that set policies and global strategies in the areas of health and nutrition claims, fortification, packaging, food safety, FDA compliance and removal of international regulatory and trade barriers.  

Jorge Lopez, leader of Akin Gump’s health industry practice, said, “As the regulatory environment becomes more rigorous and global trade barriers increase, U.S. and international organizations across a spectrum of industries face increasingly stiff challenges.  Mark’s domestic and international regulatory expertise and his first-rate reputation in the food and drug space will serve our clients well.  We are very pleased to welcome him to the firm.” 

Mr. Mansour added, “I am delighted to join Akin Gump, a vibrant, international law firm with a strong national and international footprint.  The firm’s significant Washington presence and active trade and legislative practices provide a solid platform for my practice and our clients.” 

Mr. Mansour received his B.S. cum laude from Georgetown University in 1979, his M.A. magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1983 and his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1988.  He joins the firm from Bryan Cave LLC, where he led the Food and Drug Administration practice.

Joining Mr. Mansour as an associate is Emily Strunk.  Ms. Strunk received her B.A. summa cum laude from Arizona State University in 1999 and her J.D. cum laude from American University’s Washington College of Law in 2008.  She was previously an associate at Bryan Cave.

Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a leading international law firm, numbers more than 800 lawyers in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 

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