Kathleen Benway concentrates her practice on government investigations and corporate compliance related to consumer protection issues, including privacy, security, advertising, and marketing. She also supports clients in policy and rulemaking proceedings tied to the California Consumer Privacy Act, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act’s Safeguards Rule.
With over 12 years of senior-level experience with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Kathleen is positioned to represent clients before the FTC and other government agencies. She was chief of staff to three directors of the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP), served as a senior advisor to a former FTC commissioner, and was counsel to two BCP directors, providing legal and policy advice across a range of investigations and litigation, rulemaking, and other consumer protection matters. Kathleen led investigations and prosecuted privacy, data security, and unfair and deceptive business practice cases in the BCP’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection and Division of Marketing Practices.
While at the FTC, Kathleen served two details as counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, assisting in investigations and providing advice to senators, staff, and other stakeholders on proposed legislation and policy issues. Additionally, she served as assistant chief in the Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau and as a U.S. delegate to the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network and the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities.