There was no official announcement from the agency, at least not as far as we can tell, but Sheldon Bradshaw is joining Hunton & Williams, which has a significant pharmaceutical-industry practice and reps such companies as Pfizer.

Bradshaw succeeded the controversial Dan Troy two years ago and, as predicted, was a mostly stay-the-course kind of chief counsel. Under his watch, for example, the FDA continued to assert that its own regs pre-empt state courts and juries when it comes to deciding whether individuals can mount product-liability lawsuits.

“Hunton & Williams’ food and drug practice is extremely well-respected in the biologics, pharma and related industry circles in the US and internationally,” Shelly says in a statement. “This is a vibrant, stand-out practice in a very specialized area of law that presented a natural fit for my experience and future professional growth. I look forward to returning to private practice and helping to advance Hunton & Williams’ Food and Drug Practice at a time when this area of law is growing exponentially in response to the rapid pace of related industry growth and development worldwide.”