Cooley Adds FDA Alum to Litigation and Healthcare Regulatory Practice Groups

Washington, DC – April 6, 2021 – Sonia Wadhwa Nath has joined Cooley as a partner in the firm’s business litigation and healthcare regulatory practice groups, further strengthening its life sciences counseling capabilities and regulatory presence. Based in Washington, DC, Nath arrives from the US Food and Drug Administration, where she served most recently as senior counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel, handling enforcement efforts across the range of products regulated by the agency.

“With her unparalleled FDA regulatory knowledge and enforcement experience, Sonia will enhance our regulatory capabilities and broaden the scope of our global life sciences practice, enabling us to better meet the current and anticipated needs of our ever-expanding client base at all stages of their growth,” said Kay Chandler, chair of Cooley’s life sciences industry practice.

“Sonia’s strong work ethic, superior judgment and collaborative nature will prove an ideal match for Cooley,” added life sciences industry practice vice chair Christian Plaza. “We are thrilled to have her join the team.”

During her nearly 12-year tenure as an enforcement attorney at the FDA, Nath handled matters involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, conventional foods, dietary supplements, OTC drugs, animal drugs and biologics. She negotiated dozens of civil consent decrees for the government and defended the FDA in lawsuits brought by industry. Nath most recently handled criminal prosecutions involving various FDA-regulated products in her appointed role as special assistant US attorney with the US Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California.

Nath earned her JD and master’s degree in public health from George Washington University, and her undergraduate degree from Princeton University. She interned for the late US District Judge Harold Baer Jr. of the Southern District of New York during law school and served as a law clerk for the late US District Judge Roger W. Titus of the District of Maryland after graduation. Nath next worked at Latham & Watkins before joining the FDA.

“Cooley has an impeccable reputation for advising many of the world’s most cutting-edge life sciences and healthcare companies as they face their most critical moments – and I look forward to working with leaders throughout the firm to help strategically prepare and guide clients through a variety of issues within a constantly evolving regulatory landscape,” said Nath. “Cooley is a life sciences powerhouse, and its intentional growth in the regulatory arena, coupled with its remarkable culture, solidified this move as the right choice for this next step in my career.”

Cooley’s top-tier team of life sciences and healthcare corporate, regulatory and litigation lawyers have deep US and global experience counseling on an extensive number of complex healthcare deals, regulatory issues and investigations. The firm has represented leading global life sciences companies for 40+ years and advises all players in the ecosystem, including payors, providers, companies, health IT and investors. Cooley is consistently recognized as a market leader in the field and has been the #1 firm in issuer-side life sciences IPOs since 2000.

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