Cathy Burgess

Cathy Burgess leads her firm’s FDA Compliance and Enforcement Team and co-leads the firm’s FDA practice.

Cathy advises clients on a range of matters affecting prescription and OTC drugs, biologics, medical devices, foods, and cosmetics, and has extensive experience regarding current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulation and supply chain management. For products regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), Cathy conducts liability risk assessments and works with clients to identify and analyze potential legal risks associated with their products. She advises clients on quality system remediation, adequacy of SOPs, investigation reports, inspection management, recalls, and responses to Form FDA 483s and warning letters. Cathy also conducts whistleblower investigations and special audits related to FDA compliance. She assists clients in designing compliance programs, internal audit programs, and other risk mitigation strategies. She is recognized as a leading practitioner for life sciences in Who’s Who Legal, ranked in The Best Lawyers in America© in FDA and Food and Beverage Law, and ranked Band 2 in Chambers USA in Pharmaceutical/Medical Products Regulatory. Cathy is a recipient of the FDLI 2023 Distinguished Service and Leadership Award.

Before joining Alston & Bird, Cathy served as associate general counsel for the American Red Cross, where she was responsible for regulatory matters.