Jennifer Bonanno advises clients on United States (U.S.) and global regulatory compliance issues related to food packaging and other food contact materials, including recycled plastics for use in contact with food, processing aids for food and alcoholic beverages, and medical devices. In addition to her years of law firm practice, Jennifer’s prior experience as in-house counsel informs her ability to understand the types of practical advice clients need to navigate the complexities of domestic and international regulations. Her international practice focuses on issues arising under the laws and regulations of the U.S., the European Union (EU), and Japan, but also extends to South America (MERCOSUR), Africa, Australia, other Asian countries, and the Middle East. Her degree in chemistry helps her to devise integrated scientific and regulatory strategies to assist clients with implementing marketing strategies or with innovative approaches to problem solving when issues arise.

Jennifer assists clients with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submissions, including food contact notifications (FCNs), threshold of regulation (TOR) requests, premarket notifications for medical devices (510(k) notices), and investigational new drug applications (NDAs). She also prepares legal opinion letters regarding the status of food additives, food contact materials, drug packaging, and modified medical devices marketed under a 510(k) notification. 

Before rejoining Keller and Heckman, Jennifer worked as general counsel at a semiconductor manufacturer and as FDA Counsel and Director of Regulatory Compliance for a small, biotech pharmaceutical company. She then worked for many years volunteering as a disability advocate.

Representative Matters

• Assisted clients in preparing submissions to FDA to obtain regulatory clearance for substances used in packaging materials
• Prepared opinion letters regarding the status of food additives, drug packaging, and recycled materials for FDA and its EU counterparts
• Assisted client in preparing petition to expand the use of a food contact substance in Japan
• Provided full-day client seminar for food contact paper and paperboard manufacturers on understanding the basics of FDA regulation of food contact material
• Prepared premarket notifications (501(k) notification) and assisted clients with the preparation of premarket approval applications (PMAs) for Class I, II, and III medical devices for submission to FDA
• Assisted clients with review and revision of clinical and non-clinical sections of FDA medical device submissions by commenting on the quality and quantity of data presented, including drafting reports of prior investigations
• Drafted a request for scientific advice to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and successfully conducted a meeting with MHRA to establish a regulatory track for a new drug product in the EU
• Drafted Investigational New Drug (IND) Applications for submission to FDA
• Advised clients on good manufacturing practice (GMP) excursion issues in the food packaging, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries