Ronie Schmelz regularly counsels clients on regulations enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and other regulatory agencies; California Proposition 65; and advertising, labeling, and claim substantiation. She also represents clients in regulatory and legal proceedings, including consumer class actions.
Ronie assists clients in formulating best practices for pre- and post-market activities, including regulatory compliance, product labeling, advertising, claim substantiation, Prop 65 compliance, insurance needs, vendor contract review, and consumer-facing communications, including the adoption of comprehensive website Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies. She has deep industry knowledge of and particular expertise in representing domestic and international cosmetic, personal care, and dietary supplement companies.
Ronie advises clients on litigation-avoidance strategies and, when necessary, she represents clients in broad-based commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on consumer class action defense. She regularly defends consumer product companies in litigation filed across the country asserting false advertising, unfair competition, and consumer protection claims, including claims asserted under California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Competition and False Advertising laws. She represents clients in proceedings before the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau (NAD) and the National Advertising Review Board (NARB). She also represents companies in inquiries and investigations brought by local, state, and federal governmental agencies, including FDA Warning Letters, Notices of Action, and MedWatch Adverse Event Reports.
Ronie spent the first 25 years of her career practicing in the Los Angeles office of Sidley Austin LLP, where she represented clients in complex commercial litigation, consumer class actions, reinsurance disputes, and governmental investigations.