Jessica D. Gilbert | People

Jessica Gilbert advises manufacturers, importers, distributors, online and brick-and-mortar retailers, private labelers, and other commercial clients on consumer product safety and consumer protection issues (including product safety reporting, recalls, defect investigations, civil penalties, inspections, internal compliance programs, and civil and criminal litigation resulting from product compliance and safety related incidents), drawing on both regulatory counseling and litigation experience. This dual perspective allows her to view matters holistically, helping clients anticipate risks, meet compliance obligations, and, when necessary, defend their products in litigation. She supports clients throughout the full lifecycle of a consumer product, from design and development to production, distribution, sale, and after-market response. Whether integrating safety and security into product design, evaluating and defending marketing claims, or responding swiftly to product safety concerns, Jessica provides practical solutions that reduce liability risks and safeguard brand reputation, market share, and consumer trust.

Jessica approaches her regulatory counseling work with the understanding that every situation is different; despite how similar two matters look on paper, she has become adept at determining the most appropriate response to each client’s individual situation. Her work includes advising on compliance with consumer product safety statutes, regulations, and standards, reporting obligations, recalls, product safety investigations, and consumer reports filed with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC). She also counsels on civil penalties and FOIA requests. Jessica develops and leads internal compliance programs and trainings.

In addition to her regulatory work, Jessica maintains a strong litigation practice, allowing her to support clients through both compliance challenges and defense of product liability claims. She manages all aspects of product liability defense, including drafting motions and briefs, conducting extensive multistate document review (physical and electronic), preparing and defending deposition witnesses, developing discovery responses, and coordinating responses and requests with other defendants.

Her practice spans a wide range of industries, giving her practical insight into the challenges faced by companies across the consumer product landscape. She has advised and defended manufacturers, importers, and online and traditional retailers of various consumer products, including household appliances, home furnishings, heating and cooling equipment, lighting products, plumbing products, toys and other children's products, computer equipment, lithium-ion batteries, packaging, and connected (IoT) products. This background allows her to anticipate challenges and deliver strategies that support regulatory compliance while advancing business objectives.

Focus Areas

Experience

Manufacturers, importers, distributors, online and brick-and-mortar retailers, private labelers, and other commercial clients in counseling on regulatory compliance and product safety, litigation risk analysis and mitigation, and enforcement risk management.
Consumer product companies in developing effective consumer product recalls in the United States and as part of coordinated global corrective action plans.
Manufacturers of consumer products in defending defect, enforcement, and penalty proceedings before CPSC.
Manufacturers, importers, distributors, online and brick-and-mortar retailers, private labelers, and other commercial clients with responses to notices of import violations, FOIA requests, and consumer reports filed on CPSC's Safer Products database.
Counsel companies in developing and enhancing internal compliance policies and procedures.

Consumer product companies with conducting due diligence reviews during and in advance of acquisitions regarding assessments of compliance, enforcement, and penalty risk.