Julia Thrower

Julia leads the firm’s law and science litigation focus. An attorney holding a PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Johns Hopkins University, she is a former Deputy U.S. Attorney for the United States Environmental Protection Agency where she litigated environmental trials.

Julia graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, with a Certificate in Environmental Law. She was an editor of Ecology Law Quarterly and a member of moot court. During law school, Julia interned for the Honorable Susan Illston of the Northern District of California.

After law school, Ms. Thrower was accepted into the U.S. Department of Justice’s Honors Program as a trial attorney in the Environment and Natural Resources Division. At the Department of Justice, Julia was lead counsel on several high-profile and complex environmental law matters, including high-profile tribal trust settlements and litigation of rails-to-trails cases.

Prior to law school, after achieving her Ph.D., Julia did research at the University of California, Berkeley, Department of Chemistry. Now, as an attorney, Julia’s unique scientific background allows her to collaborate easily with experts, integrating scientific information and legal principles to build the strongest case possible for The Food Lawyers’ clients.

Ms. Thrower has received several high-profile awards, including the John Marshall Award, which is the Department of Justice’s highest award for attorneys. This resulted from her work reviewing U.S. Department of Navy’s environmental documents, counseling for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental laws.

Most recently, Julia successfully advised and represented the food industry defendant in United States v. Cali Rice Valley, Inc., United States District Court for the Northern District of California; Case No. 22-cv-05967-SK. This was an action wherein the FDA unsuccessfully sought to shutter a food processing facility; one that had never had a customer complaint, illness claim or recall in more than 25 years in business.