Curriculum Vitae
Scott Bass is the founder of the Global Life Sciences practices in the United States, China and continental Europe.
Scott developed a three-continent practice encompassing compliance, regulatory, M&A, fraud and abuse, GMP, licensing, antitrust/competition, environmental and litigation services for the life sciences industry. He led the defense of many high-stakes criminal and civil investigations and audits involving pharmaceutical, biologics, medical device, OTC drug, dietary supplement and food companies.
He served on a European Commission expert panel on food safety, advised FDA on its first dietary supplement website, and, after founding the first life sciences practice in China, trained inspectors there on GMP and advised the Shanghai Institute for Food and Drug Safety on the formulation of new drug and device laws.
Advocating for companies in complex disputes has been a significant part of Scott’s practice as well. He is a New York State–qualified mediator and brings those skills to the Life Sciences Dispute Review Board initiative he developed with the International Center for Dispute Resolution (American Arbitration Association).
Scott is considered the foremost authority on U.S dietary supplement law. One of the principal drafters of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, he has authored three books on the subject, and is co-author of a recent New England Journal of Medicine article on necessary changes to that law.
He has served as counsel to many of the top associations in this field, including the global OTC drug federation.
According to Chambers USA, “The ‘phenomenal’ Scott Bass leads the firm’s global life sciences group and is recognized for his strengths in the regulatory enforcement sphere, routinely handling investigations involving off–label promotion, fraud and abuse, and pharmacovigilance.
Scott is featured as a “Life Sciences Star” by LMG Life Sciences in both the FDA,(2019-2024), and Benchmark Litigation has ranked him as a “Litigation Star” in Washington, D.C. (2022–2025).
Clients say: “He is very available, very experienced and gives very wise advice.” He has received similar plaudits from other rating groups, including induction into the first LMG Life Sciences Hall of Fame.
MEMBERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES
Scott has served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Graduate School, as co-chair of the ABA Food and Drug Law Committee and as chairman of the N.Y. State Bar Association Section on Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law.
Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D cum laude
New York University, B.A.
Books
Co-author, “FDA Enforcement Powers, Food and Drug Regulation” chapter, Food and Drug Law Regulation, Food and Drug Law Institute, (New Edition coming Spring 2026).
Author, Dietary Supplement Regulation: A Comprehensive Guide, Food and Drug Law Institute, 2011.
Co-author, The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act: A Legislative History and Analysis, Food and Drug Law Institute, 1996.
Articles
Co-author, “Dietary Supplement Health or Structure/Function Claims,” LexisNexis Practical Guidance, May 6, 2025.
Author, “A Practical Solution To Life Sciences Joint Venture Disputes,” Law360, September 18, 2023.
Co-author, “Data Integrity Risk Management for Life Sciences Companies,” The Lexis Practice Advisors Journal, 2019/2020.
Co-author, “Injecting Safety into Supplements — Modernizing the Dietary Supplement Law,” The New England Journal of Medicine, 2019.
Co-author, “Reflections on FDA Draft Guidance for Products Containing Nanomaterials: Is the Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) a Suitable Pathway for Nano Medicines?”American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), 2018.
Co-author, “FDA’s 2016 New Dietary Ingredient Draft Guidance: Promise and Challenge for Dietary Supplement Innovation,” Update, Food and Drug Law Institute, 2017.
Co-author, “Medical Foods: The Need for Reform in the 21st Century,” Healthcare Business Today, 2016.
Co-author, “FDA’s Final Medical Foods Guidance Maintains Restriction on Category,” International Law Office, 2016.
Co-author, “China — compensation for drug and device-related injuries,” PLC Cross-border Life Sciences Handbook, 2008/09.
Podcasts
Guest, “Scott Bass Shares Perspectives on 25 Years of DSHEA,” Natural Products INSIDER, April 25, 2019.