Cooley Expands Global Product Safety Capabilities in North America With Key US Hire

Washington, DC – January 9, 2020 – Cooley is expanding its global product safety, compliance and liability team with the addition of Matt Howsare, who joins as special counsel based in Washington, DC, where he will lead Cooley’s North American product safety practice. Howsare arrives from Mintz, where he was chair of the firm’s consumer product safety practice. He previously served as chief of staff at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). 

“With more than a decade of product safety experience, Matt is one of the most highly respected product safety lawyers in the US and a key addition to our rapidly growing global products team,” said Rod Freeman, head of Cooley’s product compliance and liability practice. “By adding Matt’s experience and reputation in Washington, DC, and North America to our existing international practice, we have an unmatched capability to manage product safety issues in the most challenging jurisdictions around the world.”

Howsare’s practice includes substantial experience in an area of increasing risk for international brands. He advises clients on the full suite of consumer product safety issues, including product safety reporting obligations, recalls, defect investigations, civil penalties, inspections, import seizures, internal compliance programs and compliance with product safety regulations. He leverages a unique combination of experience, having served in a leadership role inside the CPSC and having assisted numerous clients with a full range of issues involving the CPSC, Health Canada, the FTC, the US Congress and US states. 

“Well-known for its broad strengths and top-tier client base, Cooley’s global product compliance and liability practice is the perfect match for my growing practice,” Howsare said. “I’m excited to be part of a products team that is composed of leading international lawyers and offers a truly unique ability to handle global product safety issues.”

In addition to serving as chief of staff at the CPSC, Howsare is actively involved in the national and international product safety community. He has served on the board of directors of the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization since 2016 and was recently elected to serve as president of the organization. 

Cooley’s international product compliance and product liability practice works with the world's leading companies in highly regulated industries, including life sciences, technology, cosmetics and consumer products, to find practical solutions to global product regulatory compliance and liability issues.

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