Olsson Frank Weeda
Encyclopedia
Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC is an American law firm
and lobbying firm based in Washington, D.C.
, that specializes in representing business interests in the food, drug, medical device, and agriculture industries in their dealings with the Food and Drug Administration
or United States Department of Agriculture
. The firm was founded in 1979 as Olsson and Frank PC and has long been best known as Olsson Frank Weeda or, more recently, OFW Law. As of 2011, the firm has over 30 lawyers and Senior Policy Advisers in its employ.
Co-founder Philip Olsson was deputy assistant secretary at USDA for marketing and consumer services from 1971 to 1973. Co-founder Richard L. Frank was a Washington lawyer. The third long-time principal, David F. Weeda, died in 2001.
The addition of three named partners in 2007, one of whom left the firm in 2011, included Marshall Matz, who joined the firm in the early 1990s after having served as General Counsel for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs
, whose chair was Senator George McGovern
. Former Senator McGovern is himself a Senior Policy Advisor with the firm, specializing in issues of food, nutrition, and agriculture. Other former political figures serving as senior policy advisors and lobbyists with the firm include former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block and former U.S. House of Representatives member from Texas, Charles W. Stenholm, and former U.S. House of Representatives member from South Dakota, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.
As lobbyists, the firm has worked for a variety of corporations in its areas of expertise as well as for a few non-profit and human rights organizations. By 2009 it was earning $2.4 million from its lobbying activities. The former legal affairs director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest
consumer advocacy group joined the firm in 2010.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
and lobbying firm based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, that specializes in representing business interests in the food, drug, medical device, and agriculture industries in their dealings with the Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
or United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
. The firm was founded in 1979 as Olsson and Frank PC and has long been best known as Olsson Frank Weeda or, more recently, OFW Law. As of 2011, the firm has over 30 lawyers and Senior Policy Advisers in its employ.
Co-founder Philip Olsson was deputy assistant secretary at USDA for marketing and consumer services from 1971 to 1973. Co-founder Richard L. Frank was a Washington lawyer. The third long-time principal, David F. Weeda, died in 2001.
The addition of three named partners in 2007, one of whom left the firm in 2011, included Marshall Matz, who joined the firm in the early 1990s after having served as General Counsel for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs
United States Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs
The United States Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs was a select committee of the United States Senate between 1968 and 1977. It was sometimes referred to as the McGovern committee, after its only chairperson, Senator George McGovern of South Dakota.-Formation and members:The...
, whose chair was Senator George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
. Former Senator McGovern is himself a Senior Policy Advisor with the firm, specializing in issues of food, nutrition, and agriculture. Other former political figures serving as senior policy advisors and lobbyists with the firm include former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block and former U.S. House of Representatives member from Texas, Charles W. Stenholm, and former U.S. House of Representatives member from South Dakota, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.
As lobbyists, the firm has worked for a variety of corporations in its areas of expertise as well as for a few non-profit and human rights organizations. By 2009 it was earning $2.4 million from its lobbying activities. The former legal affairs director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Center for Science in the Public Interest is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit watchdog and consumer advocacy group focusing on nutritional education and awareness.-History and funding:...
consumer advocacy group joined the firm in 2010.