Elle Jimenez

Elle Jimenez

Associate
Washington DC
About

Elle Jimenez is an associate attorney in DLA Piper's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regulatory Group, where she provides legal counsel on a broad spectrum of regulatory compliance matters affecting national and international clients involved in the manufacture, distribution, and retail of FDA-regulated products, including foods, beverages, dietary supplements, and cosmetics.

In addition to her FDA-focused work, Elle advises businesses on navigating complex regulatory frameworks enforced by other government agencies, such as the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Her experience includes advising on labeling and packaging requirements and ongoing compliance obligations across a wide range of consumer goods. She also manages cross-border product recalls, ensuring regulatory compliance and effective stakeholder communication.

Elle regularly supports merger and acquisition (M&A) due diligence for companies acquiring or investing in businesses with portfolios of FDA, TTB, or USDA-regulated products. Her work includes conducting comprehensive reviews of a target company's regulatory compliance, permits, certifications, and audit histories, as well as preparing permit assessments related to changes in ownership or control to facilitate smooth regulatory transitions and mitigate transactional risk.

Areas of FocusConsumer Goods, Food and RetailFood and BeverageLife Sciences RegulatoryRegulatory and Government AffairsFDA Regulatory
Bar admissionsDistrict of Columbia

EXPERIENCE

Alcohol
  • Serve as lead alcohol regulatory associate for a tequila acquisition, coordinating with TTB and regulatory agencies across all 50 states and Washington, DC to advise on change-of-control requirements
  • Conduct comprehensive label reviews and classification assessments for non-alcoholic malt beverages and canned cocktails
  • Conduct tied-house compliance assessments
  • Assess regulatory procedures for an international alcohol corporation establishing US operations
Food and Dietary Supplements
  • Analyze international standards for heavy metal content in food ingredients
  • Provide regulatory counsel and risk assessments for food and dietary supplement labeling, including evaluation of claims, ingredient disclosures, and overall compliance
  • Advise restaurant chains on menu labeling laws, allergen warning statements, and compliance strategies
  • Conduct due diligence for transactions involving FDA-regulated products, including reviews of regulatory compliance, permits, certifications, and audit histories
  • Advise foreign pork and chicken producers on US considerations for vertical operations integration
Cosmetics
  • Conduct ingredient and label risk assessments for 30+ products from an international cosmetics company entering the US market
Cannabis
  • Perform state-by-state comparative analysis of synthetic cannabinoid laws applicable to consumable cannabis products and evaluate permissibility of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) in food and beverage products under varying state regulatory frameworks
Consumer Products
  • Serve as lead associate managing a product recall spanning 9 countries, ensuring regulatory compliance and stakeholder communication
  • Advise on packaging and labeling requirements for products subject to the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act and Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulations
  • Counsel a company on maintaining brand distinction between flagship and fighter brands by outlining structural options to comply with applicable labeling regulations

Pro Bono

Elle is actively engaged in pro bono and community service initiatives. She has successfully represented an individual in appealing multiple denials of Social Security Disability Insurance before an Administrative Law Judge, resulting in a favorable judgment. She was part of a team representing a class of individuals challenging government agency deficiencies in the administration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and collaborated with an Alaskan nonprofit organization to support residents experiencing significant delays in receiving SNAP benefits—personally contacting affected individuals to help advance their cases within the system. In addition, Elle presents pro bono webinars to small business owners, advises startups on product classification and labeling requirements, and volunteers at local food banks to help combat food insecurity.

Education
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
    Senior Online Editor, The Georgetown Law Journal
  • B.A., University of Michigan
    Phi Beta Kappa

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Food and Drug Law Institute

My latest insights

Publication
school of fish

Food and Beverage News and Trends - September 19, 2025

19 September 2025 .18 minute read

Publication
Herd of bulls

Food and Beverage News and Trends - August 22, 2025

22 August 2025 .16 minute read

Publication
ostriches

Food and Beverage News and Trends - July 25, 2025

25 July 2025 .18 minute read

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Phone

+1 202 799 4233
(Work, Washington DC)