As we start a new year, I want to welcome you to the Food Law Section. This has been a rough year for accomplishing much other than learning how to conduct meetings via Zoom. But, because people always need to eat and because the growing, preparation and sale of what they eat is increasingly newsworthy, this section will always have value and activities. We are needed to keep other lawyers informed in ways to help their clients and benefit their practices.

The Food Law Section had just been organized when the pandemic hit. We will continue the work started by immediate past chair, Molly Wiltshire, and member Jane McBride, and the way the section has been organized. That is to organize the many topics touching on food law by subcommittees: Food Innovation, Technologies, Regulations and Litigation; Illinois Alcohol & Beverage; Illinois Farming & Craft Foods; Sustainability & Environmental; Restaurants (new).

The Food Law Section through each sub-committee will sponsor timely seminars and webcasts. We have already put on a seminar, via Zoom, Getting to Zero Food Waste, which went very well. Food Labeling & Cell Based Meat will be a webcast on October 19, 2021.

We will also continue a newsletter, which we hope to publish on a monthly basis. All members of the section are welcome to contribute to this.

Communication, questions, and comments can be dealt with through the ISBA Central Communities. To access this, sign into the ISBA website, go to “Groups & Participation” (fourth item from the left in the upper ribbon below the ISBA logo). In the third column “Get Involved” go to the first item under the heading “ISBA Central Committees.” There, go to the first heading on the left “Getting Started.” Entry numbered three is “… post a message….” Click on that. It will open a new page “Start New Thread.” Fill in the community or section to be posted to. It is a drop-down menu. The rest is self-evident.

I look forward to your participation in this Section and our providing informative, timely help to our legal community.

Lynne R. Ostfeld, P.C.
300 N. State St., Suite 5404
Chicago, IL 60654 U.S.A.
www.ostfeldlaw.com
ostfeld@ostfeldlaw.com
312/645-1066

Lynne Ostfeld has a general civil practice and concentrates on legal assistance to small and medium sized companies and individuals.  This is in the area of business law and contracts, estate planning and probate, and dispute resolution.
She is also general manager of a family limited partnership involved in the production of corn, soybeans and rice in Illinois, Iowa and Louisiana, along with a hog operation in Iowa.

Lynne R. Ostfeld is a solo practitioner admitted to practice in the State of Illinois and before the Supreme Court of the United States of America, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 

Her primary office is in Chicago but she has a second office on a family farm in Peoria County, Illinois, and is associated with the law firm DMALEX Avocats in Paris, France.

Currently, she is Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Food Law Section Council and a member of the ISBA Agriculture Law Section Council. She has been adjunct
 Professor of international agri-business law at the John Marshall Law School (now University of Illinois Chicago Law School). 

In 2017 Ostfeld was awarded the Medal of Knight of the French National Order of Merit for her work for the French in the Midwest.  She continues as legal advisor to the Consulate of France in Chicago.