Sheldon is co-chair of the firm's food and drug practice group. His practice focuses on providing legal and regulatory assistance to both small growth companies and large multinational corporations regarding products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Prior to joining Hunton & Williams, Sheldon served as Chief Counsel at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2005 to 2007. As Chief Counsel, he was responsible for providing legal advice to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and to the FDA's senior leadership—including the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioners and the Directors of the various FDA Centers—on issues related to drugs, biologics, medical devices, food, animal feed and drugs, cosmetics, dietary supplements and other products regulated under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Service Act. In addition, he oversaw all FDA-related litigation and reviewed and approved every significant regulation and guidance document promulgated by the FDA and every significant warning letter issued by the FDA. Prior to his service at the FDA, Sheldon held several senior positions at the U.S. Department of Justice where he, among other things, provided advice to FDA and testified before Congress on matters under the FDA's jurisdiction. At the firm, he advises clients in the same areas in which he worked while Chief Counsel of FDA.
From 1996 to 1999, Sheldon was a law clerk for the Hon. Karen J. Williams of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth and Fifth Circuits.