Faegre Drinker Welcomes Former Senate HELP Committee General Counsel Barrett Tenbarge to Government and Regulatory Group

Faegre Drinker announced today that Barrett Tenbarge has joined the firm as a partner in the government and regulatory group in Washington, D.C. Before joining the firm, Tenbarge served as general counsel for the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee under Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D.

Tenbarge advises clients on the full lifecycle of FDA regulation and compliance and on navigating complex public policy and regulatory issues, especially those in the life sciences sector. He has extensive experience providing FDA-regulated organizations counsel on product development, enforcement, investigations, transactions, and public policy matters. He advises clients on holistic strategies aligned across legal, regulatory and public policy domains in biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and other FDA-regulated industries.

"Barrett’s experience on the Senate HELP Committee equips him with keen insight on the rapidly evolving FDA regulatory landscape and a deep understanding of what’s top of mind for our life science clients,” said Scott Chinn, leader of the firm’s government and regulatory group. “His government background and extensive knowledge of regulatory frameworks will be invaluable for clients navigating complex policy landscapes.”

At the HELP Committee, Tenbarge helped negotiate and draft multiple pieces of legislation that became or are on track to become law, including the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act (FDORA), the PREVENT Pandemics Act, the Modernizing Cosmetics Regulation Act (MOCRA), and reauthorizations of the over-the-counter (OTC) drug and animal drug user fee programs. He was also involved with several major health care initiatives, multiple high-profile hearings on drug pricing and the COVID-19 pandemic response, two FDA commissioner confirmations, responding to the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision, and drafting a committee white paper on artificial intelligence.

“Barrett’s extensive experience on Capitol Hill will be valuable for clients seeking an insider’s appreciation of the dense policy issues they navigate,” said Maureen Donahue Hardwick, leader of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. “Barrett will be a great asset to our office and life sciences clients across the country.”

Tenbarge is an adjunct professor at the George Mason Scalia School of Law, where he teaches FDA Law and Policy. He earned his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Kelley School of Business. An Indiana native, he will split time between the Indianapolis office and Washington, D.C. office.

Faegre Drinker’s government and regulatory practice comprises of attorneys and consultants, including lobbyists, policy authorities and scientists, that have a deep understanding of how government functions at all levels and across an array of subject matter and technical areas. Our professionals represent clients in legislative, regulatory and administrative matters with extraordinary passion and depth of experience.