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Sandra D. Morar

Sandra D. Morar

Attorney

When clients make significant business decisions, they need a seasoned advisor who understands their industry and can provide valuable insight. For more than 30 years, Sandra has advised food, dietary supplement and OTC drug companies in implementing some of their most important strategies. She works with clients as an integral member of their team, helping them solve problems efficiently so that they can stay focused on their business objectives. Whether a client’s issue involves obtaining the authorization of a new food or dietary ingredient, complying with manufacturing requirements, supply chain issues, labeling and advertising, litigation defense, enforcement or PR damage control, Sandra serves as an effective advisor and advocate. Spending summer’s on her grandmother’s farm has given Sandra a unique appreciation for a “farm to table” approach to the food industry. A self-described “health nut”, Sandra is deeply involved in providing the appropriate scientific and regulatory support for her dietary supplement clients.


Focusing on consumer product issues, Sandra advises clients on compliance with the multiple rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act, including HACCP plans, as well as the various cannabis laws. She has successfully led clients through the rigorous regulatory and public communications maze attendant to bringing a new product to market and for product recalls, competitive challenges, and threatened government actions. Proactive efforts such as petitioning the government for regulatory change, interfacing with consumer advocates, and working closely with industry and scientific organizations enhance her clients’ ability to market and distribute safe and innovative products. Sandra guides her clients through large-scale change as they expand into new markets or business lines, representing clients worldwide and across all consumer product categories. Her practice specializes in the food (human and pet), dietary supplement, OTS drug and beauty industries, interfacing with the FDA, USDA, Consumer Product Safety Division, the FTC, Office of Inspector General and EPA, as well as state and local agencies. 

Sandra also assists a cross section of businesses in navigating the complex state and federal laws controlling marketing claims and sweepstakes, with a special emphasis on issues relating to their social media presence and online marketing. Keeping clients informed of the latest trends in class action law suits and defending clients in consumer litigation, including under California’s Proposition 65, is a real passion. Contract negotiating and implementation for service providers, negotiating with insurance companies, and traditional distribution and supply chain contracts for consumer goods, are also included in her practice.

During law school, Sandra was the Editor in Chief of the Creighton Law Review, and was twice awarded the American Jurisprudence Award, both for Constitutional Law and Torts.   

Education
  • Creighton University School of Law (J.D., Magna Cum Laude, 1988)
  • Creighton University (B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1984)
Admissions
  • Nebraska (1988: Sustaining Member)
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska (1988)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit (1988)

Events

November 07, 2019

14th Annual Seminar For Accounting Professionals

McGrath North is sponsoring and conducting our 14th Annual Seminar for Accounting Professionals in Omaha, Nebraska.  


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November 01, 2018

13th Annual Seminar For Accounting Professionals

McGrath North is sponsoring and conducting our Thirteenth Annual Seminar for Accounting Professionals in Omaha, Nebraska.  The seminar will focus on a variety of topics such as: You’re Collecting Sensitive Personal And Financial Data From Your U.S. Clients: Are You Doing What Is Required To Protect It?; Help Your Consumer Products Clients Save Time and Money; Structuring and Implementing Buy-Sell Agreements; New Section 199A: All the Highlights; My Meme is Better than Yours: Internet IP Considerations; Labor and Employment Law Under Trump: Where are We and Where are We Headed?; The State Tax Anatomy Series—Wayfair Meets the Tax Defense Team; and Employee Benefits Annual Review.  


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Publications

More Publications
12/04/2019

FDA Issues Warning Letters To 15 Companies Selling CBD Products

This week, FDA issued warning letters to 15 companies for selling products containing cannabidiol (CBD) in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FD&C Act”). The covered products include pet products, topicals, dietary supplements, and conventional foods (including peanut butter, water and gummies).  


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12/03/2019

USDA Releases Proposed Hemp Rules

On October 29, the USDA released  the much-anticipated draft rules for hemp manufacturing (the “Proposed Rules”).  As we have previously written about HERE, the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act and ordered the USDA to establish a Domestic Hemp Production Program and implementing regulations. The Proposed Rules cover the requirements for where hemp can be grown, THC testing standards, the disposal process for “hot hemp” (hemp with THC content in excess of the permitted limit) and licensing protocols.  


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  • Omaha Bar Association
  • Nebraska State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Grocery Manufacturers of America, Legal and Health & Nutrition Committees
  • International Food Information Council, Food Safety Committee
  • Advisory Board of the Nebraska and Iowa Chamber of Commerce Kitchen Council
  • Alpha Sigma Nu National Jesuit Honorary Society
  • Editor-in-Chief, 1987-88, Creighton Law Review
  • Adjunct Professor, Creighton University School of Law, Research and Writing, 1988-1990
  • Co-Author: “Nutritional Claims for Functional Foods & Supplements”, Toxicology 221 (2006) 44-49; Second Edition 2013
  • Editor: "Nebraska's Tax Based Business Incentives: A Constitutional Review", 21 Creighton Law Review 439, 1987
  • Author: “The Business of an Advertising Lawyer” chapter, Aspatore Books (2006)
  • Author: “A General Overview for New Food Attorneys” chapter, Aspatore Books (2006)
  • Guest Lecturer, New York University; Communication Ethics, Law and Regulatory, Spring 2008.
  • Listed: Martindale-Hubbell, AV/Preeminent Rating
  • Worked with FDA through petitions and meetings on behalf of food trade associations that resulted in increased flexibility in FSMA final regulations.
  • Developed legal and scientific support leading to favorable resolution of litigation challenging marketing claims for a collagen product.
  • Helped bring to market the country’s first probiotic and first frozen meal geared toward seniors. Continue to bring novel products to market in the OTC drug, dietary supplement and food spaces.
  • Helped numerous companies respond effectively to FDA Form 483 challenges to their manufacturing practices and resolved issues without FDA issuing a Warning Letter.
  • Successful in changing FDA regulations regarding the appropriate sodium levels for “healthy” labeled food products, and successfully changing USDA regulations to allow nutrient content and health claims on multi-serve food products, allowing hundreds of food products to market their health benefits.
  • Managed the legal issues associated with the nation’s second largest meat recall at the time without a fine, plant closing or regulatory litigation. Represented the client before the USDA and OIG (Office of Inspector General) during their investigations, and worked with scientists and related experts on CDC issues, public relations, customer and consumer issues.  Kept consumer litigation costs to a minimum.
  • Designed and implemented entire consumer affairs program for a variety of consumer product clients, including starting from the safety and quality issues in the plants, up through and including developing protocols, scripts and strategies for consumer affairs personnel.