Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, LAW FIRM NEWS: FTC Advertising Chief of Staff Phyllis Marcus joins Hunton & Williams, (Oct 23, 2015)

Global law firm Hunton & Williams LLP has welcomed former FTC Division of Advertising Practices Chief of Staff Phyllis Hurwitz Marcus as counsel in the firm’s Global Competition Group. She will be based in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.

Marcus’ addition to Hunton & Williams bolsters the firm’s advertising, consumer protection, and privacy practices. While serving with the FTC, Marcus focused on advertising, marketing, and consumer protection issues, with a particular emphasis on children’s privacy. As Chief of Staff of the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Division of Advertising Practices, Marcus managed the Commission’s advertising workload, handled congressional matters, and led various investigations concerning deceptive health claims, endorsements, and disclosures.

“Phyllis’s FTC experience combines advertising and consumer protection enforcement with a unique background in privacy law, areas that are vitally important to our clients,” stated head of the firm’s Global Competition Practice, D. Bruce Hoffman. “Phyllis worked on advertising substantiation and consumer deception investigations, litigation and policy. On the privacy front, she took on the lead role in enforcing—and later overhauling—the FTC’s rules implementing the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (known as COPPA).”

Global Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice head Lisa J. Sotto added, “Companies struggle with COPPA compliance every day—for example, how to determine the age of website users and how to obtain VPC (verifiable parental consent). Phyllis, who championed COPPA while with the FTC, is the best authority to guide them through the regulatory process.”

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Marcus received her law degree from the University of Michigan. Following graduation she held a judicial clerkship with Judge John C. Eldridge of the Maryland Court of Appeals. After her clerkship, she entered private practice, then served as legal director for a nonprofit organization before joining the FTC in 1998.

Hunton & Williams is an international law firm with over 800 attorneys located in 19 offices across Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Attorneys: Phyllis H. Marcus (Hunton & Williams LLP)

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