Administrative Law/Regulatory - Regulatory Issues Affecting New Technologies
Crowell & Moring lawyers are experienced in dealing with the special regulatory burdens confronting companies that develop emerging technologies or bring the results of new technologies to market. Often, an important first step is helping make sure the regulators and the public understand what the technology is (and what it is not), and what the risks are (and are not). Sometimes the existing regulatory environment just doesn't fit the new technology. At other times, new regulations are developed that simply do not work in practice, however appropriate they seemed in theory. And aside from the substance, the pace of developing new regulations often lags significantly behind the technology, which can create its own set of difficulties.
We represent clients (companies and industry associations) in their interactions with agencies developing new regulatory schemes, and we've helped clients challenge new policies administratively, in court, and before Congress. For example, our Biotech and Intellectual Property practice areas can help clients involved with genetically modified organisms (such as plants, foods, and pharmaceuticals) plan for, and deal with, evolving regulation by the Agriculture Department, Environmental Protection Agency, and Food and Drug Administration, as well as the novel patent issues that arise. Similarly, our Health Care practice area assists clients on HCFA reimbursement issues for new medical technologies, and our Aviation practice area advises clients in FAA certification of new aviation technologies.
The development of new technology and new products is, by itself, difficult and uncertain. For more information on how we help clients minimize the likelihood that the regulatory process will add to the difficulty and uncertainty, please visit one of the practice areas: Aviation, Biotechnology, Health Care and Intellectual Property.