Cosmetics Regulatory Summit

Sharon Blinkoff is a Senior Counsel at Locke Lord LLP. Sharon represents manufacturers, marketers, and distributors of cosmetics, dietary supplements, over the counter drugs, and medical devices as well as beauty appliances and other consumer products and luxury goods. She regularly advises clients on compliance with the laws enforced by the FDA, CPSC, and the FTC, and obtaining FDA registrations and 510k premarket clearances.

For many years Sharon has played a leadership role in the Cosmetics and Personal Care Industry serving on the Board of Directors and as Corporate Secretary for the Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors (ICMAD) Trade Association. Sharon, on behalf of ICMAD, has served as part of the industry negotiating team that met with representatives of the US FDA to develop a framework for new Cosmetic legislation. She has also been an active participant on behalf of the industry, by submitting comments on FDA’s proposed changes to the OTC Monograph proceedings and the proposal to require IND’s for cosmetic testing, as well as other regulatory proceedings both state and federal that impact on the Cosmetic and Personal Care industry.

Having served as Division and Regulatory Counsel for Bristol-Myers Squibb/Fortis Clairol Division, as well as Senior Counsel for Revlon, Sharon brings considerable experience in representing regulated businesses on a broad range of regulatory and business matters. She also served as General Counsel to Ethan Allen Inc. and was part of the management group that restructured the company and took it public. With her broad regulatory experience and business background, she brings considerable knowledge and expertise to the challenges faced by her clients.

Having spent her early career as a patent attorney for the National Institutes of Health, Sharon also brings a keen understanding of the technical side of the regulatory process and the interplay between regulatory issues and IP assets and how they relate to the client’s business strategy.

Sharon has successfully defended clients in regulatory proceedings before the FDA and the FTC, and has instituted and defended clients in advertising challenges before the NAD, ERSP and the FTC as well as in Lanham Act litigations. She has also assisted in the structuring business transactions involving regulated products and industries, including corporate acquisitions and divestitures, public offerings, joint venture and distribution
agreements.