Lynn L. Bergeson

President

Overview

President of The Acta Group (Acta®), Ms. Bergeson counsels clients on issues pertaining to chemical hazard, exposure and risk assessment, and risk communication. She has earned an international reputation in the legal and regulatory aspects of conventional and nanoscale chemical regulatory programs under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), and on issues pertinent to nanotechnology and other emerging transformative technologies. Specialties include chemical product approval and regulation under TSCA, FIFRA, and REACH, as well as nanoscale substances and nanomaterials law, policy, and regulation.

Representative Engagements

  • Assists a global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products to register and maintain chemical product approvals in all jurisdictions in which its products are marketed.
  • Assists several biobased chemical manufacturers to address difficult TSCA nomenclature and chemical identity issues and to devise and implement product stewardship protocols to manage these products with downstream stakeholders.
  • Assists clients to prepare and obtain approvals for chemicals produced by intergeneric microorganisms.

Professional and Community Involvement

  • Regent, American College of Environmental Lawyers, 2022 – ; Executive Committee, American College of Environmental Lawyers, 2022 –
  • Immediate Past President, Product Stewardship Society Board of Directors, 2021 – 2022; Member, Product Stewardship Society Board of Directors, 2015 – 2022
  • Chair, IBA, Agriculture and Food Section, 2022 – ; Senior Vice Chair, IBA, Agriculture and Food Section, 2018 – 2021
  • Appointed by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley to serve on the Washington College Board of Visitors and Governors, 2013 – 2016, and by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, 2016 – 2022
  • Chair, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, 2005 – 2006
  • Chair, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Special Committee on TSCA Reform, 2009 –
  • Vice Chair, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Committee on Pesticides, Chemical Regulation, and Right-to-Know, 2008 –
  • Editor, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Pesticides, Chemical Regulation, and Right-To-Know Committee Newsletter
  • Member, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Governance Committee, 2013 – 2014
  • Member, Industrial Biotechnology Journal, Editorial Board, 2014 –
  • Member, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Nanotechnology Standards Panel (NSP) Steering Committee, 2004 – 2005
  • Chair of the Environment, Health, and Safety Committee of the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association
  • Member, Steering Committee of EPA’s Pollution Prevention through Nanotechnology Conference
  • The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group (PCAST nTAG)
  • Member, the ISO Technical Committee 229 on Nanotechnologies Steering Committee Member, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Conference on Potential Environmental Benefits of Nanotechnology: Fostering Safe Innovation-Led Growth, Paris, France, 2009

Articles and Writings

Presentations

B&C, Acta, and BCCM provide a full range of global support for the commercialisation of chemicals, biocides, and products of industrial biotechnology, nanotechnology, and synthetic biology.

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Education

  • BA, Michigan State University, 1975, magna cum laude
  • JD, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, 1979, Law Review

Bar & Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2020
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1982
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 1983
  • District of Columbia, 1980

Rankings & Recognition

  • Chambers and Partners USA: Environmental Law, Washington, D.C., Ranked Lawyer: Band 1 (2017 – 2023)
  • Super Lawyers (2008-2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Washington, DC’s Best Lawyers in Environmental Law (2009, 2013 – 2023)
  • U.S. News & World Report: Best Law Firms, First-Tier Ranking for Environmental Law (2012 – 2022)
  • Who’s Who Legal of Environment Lawyers (2004 – 2023)
  • Who’s Who Legal, Environment Leading Practitioners/Global Elite Thought Leaders (2009, 2013 – 2023)
  • Chambers and Partners USA: Environmental Law Notable Practitioner (2005 – 2020)
  • Super Lawyers: Top 50 Women Washington, D.C. (2018, 2020)
  • Lexology Thought Leader, Infrastructure (2018 – 2023)
  • Washingtonian’s List of Top Lawyers (2009 – 2019)
  • National Law Review Go-To Thought Leader (2019 – 2022)
  • 2011 Inductee, American College of Environmental Lawyers
  • Martindale-Hubbell’s Top Women Lawyers in the Northeast for Environmental Law (2011)
  • Law360’s Five Most Admired Environmental Attorneys (2010)
  • Nanotechnology Law & Business’s List of Top Ten Experts in Environmental, Health, and Safety Issues Related to Engineered Nanomaterials (2009)