“Having provided regulatory and legal advice to clients across the country as counsel to IDFA, Emily brings a unique perspective and set of relationships and experiences to help us continue the expansion of our depth and breadth of practitioners serving the agriculture, food and beverage sectors,” said Dave Crass, Co-Chair of the firm’s Agribusiness and Food & Beverage Industry Team. “With the recent activities of FDA and USDA, Emily will be a great asset to our group and clients.”
Lyons has deep industry knowledge concerning complex regulatory matters including food safety, food labeling and marketing, environmental, worker safety, sustainability and organic standards. Having grown up on a dairy farm and with a strong background in food, environmental, and safety regulation of livestock operations and food processors, Emily has an extensive understanding of the food processing business and leverages her experience to help clients navigate the complex and often changing regulatory environment. She is experienced in obtaining successful outcomes in issues that arise with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“Learning how a client’s business operates is invaluable in providing quality legal advice,” said Lyons. “I’m looking forward to bringing that skill set combined with my experience as in-house counsel to a national trade association to assist farmers and food and beverage companies with their legal and regulatory compliance issues, be they international or domestic.”
Lyons will be an active member of the firm’s Agribusiness and Food & Beverage industry team, whose lawyers and technical experts work with producers, food companies and processors, among other industry clients. Michael Best’s team frequently collaborates with members of Michael Best Strategies LLC, the firm’s government relations and public affairs affiliate, to provide clients a full range of strategic services regarding the regulatory and policy challenges and opportunities in these industries. Lyons’ national and international regulatory experience, coupled with Michael Best Strategies’ government insights and relationships, will strengthen the groups’ capabilities in handling challenging regulatory matters.
Prior to joining Michael Best, Lyons served as the director of regulatory affairs and counsel for the International Dairy Foods Association where she was responsible for working with members and government agencies on environmental, worker safety and sustainability issues, as well as food and safety defense. Lyons also managed contracts, provided statutory and regulation interpretations, and oversaw active litigation, handled in-house discovery, and monitored association activities for antitrust issues.
Lyons received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Vermont Law School where she served as the head note editor of the Vermont Law Review. She also earned her B.S., with honors, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
