Ropes & Gray and In-House Counsel Discuss Risk Preparedness and More at Food & Beverage Conference

Strategic transactions partner Michael Littenberg (New York) and litigation and enforcement partner Ryan Rohlfsen (Chicago), co-chair of Ropes & Gray’s award-winning anti-corruption and international risk practice, discussed global supply chain, crisis management and risk preparedness at the FoodBev Exchange. The annual conference in Chicago was held virtually this year on October 8 and 9.

On Oct. 9, Ryan, joined by Bill O’Connor, vice president and general counsel at Heartland Foods, and Jerry Kral, chief ethics and compliance officer at Brown-Forman, addressed “Predicting the Unpredictable: A Crisis Management Roadmap for Food & Beverage Companies.” The presenters reviewed enterprise and operational risk management; scenario-planning exercises; and the importance of measuring the likelihood and magnitude of potential political, economic, social-cultural, technological, legal, environmental and ethical risks, as well as the degree to which an organization’s legal and management team has prepared for them.

On Oct. 8, Michael, joined by Andrea Bruce, senior counsel, global regulatory law at Hershey Company, presented on “Global Spotlight: Trends in International Food Law and Supply Chain Policy.” The presentation addressed topics that included the role of business in human rights compliance, modern slavery, an assessment of China’s regulation on the implementation of Food Safety Law, and an examination of the contrasts between EU food labeling rules and FDA labeling requirements.