Atty. Thomas C. Berger
Thomas (Tom) Berger’s practice is based on an in-depth understanding of and experience with the chemicals, plastics, and electronics industries. As a preeminent practitioner with over 30 years of experience, Tom helps clients commercialize new chemical products and preserve supply chains for existing chemical products utilizing an interdisciplinary team approach combining law and science, with an emphasis on emerging technologies in the industrial and consumer chemicals areas.
Profile Summary
About Thomas C. Berger at a glance
Thomas C. Berger is a Partner based in Washington, District of Columbia, practicing at Keller and Heckman LLP. They have 33+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1993. Their practice focuses on personal injury, litigation, consumer, environmental, and health care. Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania (1993), District of Columbia (1995), and Indiana (2006). Educated at George Washington University Law School (J.D., 1993) and Michigan State University (B.S. Michigan, 1987). Active member of Memberships •American Bar Association (ABA), Pesticide, Chemical Regulation, and Right-to-Know Committee. Serands clients in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Thomas (Tom) Berger’s practice is based on an in-depth understanding of and experience with the chemicals, plastics, and electronics industries
- As a preeminent practitioner with over 30 years of experience, Tom helps clients commercialize new chemical products and preserve supply chains for existing chemical products utilizing an interdisciplinary team approach combining law and science, with an emphasis on emerging technologies in the industrial and consumer chemicals areas
- Tom’s practice focuses almost exclusively on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
- Tom leads clients through the TSCA section 5 premanufacture notification (PMN) approval process and negotiates the terms of resulting section 5(e) orders and significant new use rules (SNURs)
- He provides counsel to clients on major U.S
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforcement matters, assists companies in preparing for compliance inspections and responding to information requests and subpoenas, and defends Agency enforcement actions
- As an active member of the environmental and chemical industries and legal community, Tom was extensively involved in efforts to “reform” TSCA, and has in-depth and day-to-day experience with all aspects of TSCA, including rulemaking/advocacy, test rule/order, section 5 PMN, TSCA Inventory, Chemical Data Reporting (CDR), and section 6, as well as confidential business information (CBI), section 8 recordkeeping and reporting, and import/export issues
- Tom’s technical background allows him to undertake matters that involve complex chemistry, chemical nomenclature, and chemical engineering issues
- Tom co-authored an amicus curiae brief for the United States Supreme Court in Hoechst Celanese v
- United States, 128 F.3d 216 (4th Cir. 1997), as well as four technical papers on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (“dioxin”)
- Tom is a recognized leader in conducting extensive voluntary TSCA compliance audits, often conducted as part of corporate mergers or acquisitions
- Since its inception in 1995, Tom has assisted hundreds of clients successfully utilize EPA’s “Audit Policy” (as well as the “New Owner Policy”) to disclose and obtain up to 100% gravity-based monetary penalty mitigation for a wide variety of TSCA violations
- Tom is a frequent lecturer and author on chemical notification, chemical regulation, liability management, auditing, enforcement, and TSCA reform issues, and is regularly quoted as an expert in the trade press
- He was a contributing author of Environmental and Workplace Safety, A Guide for University, Hospital, and School Managers (Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1996)
- Tom has a Chemical Engineering background, and, prior to joining Keller and Heckman, worked as an engineer for a major international chemical manufacturing company
- Awards •The Best Lawyers in America: Environmental Law, 2025 - 2026 Insights & In the News TSCA Citizen Suits - Not the Same as It Ever Was 05.20.2026 Publication TSCA CBI Claims Face Heightened Litigation and Imminent Expiration Deadlines 03.02.2026 Publication TSCA and the Food (and Food Packaging) Exemptions 10.17.2024 Publication Tom Berger and Herb Estreicher Quoted in Inside TSCA Article on Increased Scrutiny of TSC
- In The News 03.23.2026
Practice Areas Explained
Thomas C. Berger's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Thomas C. Berger handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Thomas C. Berger is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in District of Columbia →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Thomas C. Berger is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in District of Columbia →
Consumer protection attorneys for fraud, lemon law, debt harassment, and deceptive trade practices.
Thomas C. Berger is one of 50,607 consumer attorneys indexed nationally. Browse consumer attorneys in District of Columbia →
Environmental attorneys for regulatory compliance, contamination, land use, and natural resource law.
Thomas C. Berger is one of 56,434 environmental attorneys indexed nationally. Browse environmental attorneys in District of Columbia →
Health care attorneys for HIPAA, Medicare, Medicaid, regulatory compliance, and medical licensing matters.
Thomas C. Berger is one of 66,735 health care attorneys indexed nationally. Browse health care attorneys in District of Columbia →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in District of Columbia
Practicing law in District of Columbia. Legal matters in District of Columbia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Washington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate District of Columbia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in District of Columbia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in District of Columbia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional District of Columbia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Washington or all attorneys in District of Columbia.
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