Institute for Food Laws and Regulations

Brian Sylvester is a partner at Perkins Coie LLP. He focuses his practice on food and beverage regulatory matters before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and analogous state regulatory bodies. He is a leading authority on food tech regulation and serves as a trusted advisor to global brands, startups, life science companies, investors, and trade associations.

Within the realm of food and beverage, cosmetics and OTC drugs, his practice spans enforcement actions, audits and investigations, regulatory compliance, labeling and advertising, import and export, due diligence, consumer litigation, comment preparation, public policy advocacy at the federal and state levels, and new product development.

Mr. Sylvester has extensive experience in developing regulatory strategies to commercialize a range of food tech innovations, including transgenic crops and alternative proteins like cultivated meat, among others. He leverages his experience as a former regulator at USDA to counsel clients on strategic considerations around engagement with and advocacy before USDA and FDA on numerous complex issues, including those of first impression.

Mr. Sylvester is a prolific author and frequent speaker at industry-leading events in the United States, the European Union, Israel, and other parts of the world. He is regularly called upon to offer insights on trending legal issues by leading industry and global publications.

Mr. Sylvester is a guest contributor to the IFLR course Regulatory Leadership in Food Law.