Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP (WBK) is pleased to announce that Kathleen Benway is joining the firm as a Partner in the Washington, DC, office. Ms. Benway brings a wealth of regulatory, legislative and enforcement experience in privacy, data security and other areas of consumer protection law, having served most recently as Chief of Staff of the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to Bureau Directors Andrew Smith, Tom Pahl and Jessica Rich where she provided advice on case developments, and policy and regulatory initiatives.

As BCP Chief of Staff, Ms. Benway worked closely with the agency’s Office of Congressional Relations to respond to Congressional inquiries and provide briefings to Congressional staff. She also served as a liaison to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on areas of shared jurisdiction. In late 2017, Acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen appointed Ms. Benway as the FTC’s first Elder Justice Coordinator, responsible for coordinating the Commission’s enforcement and consumer education efforts and policy activities under the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act.

Prior to her role as BCP Chief of Staff, Ms. Benway was Attorney Advisor to former FTC Commissioner Julie Brill, and Counsel to former BCP Directors, David Vladeck and Jessica Rich. In those roles, she provided legal and policy advice on a wide range of issues involving investigations and litigation, rulemaking and other matters within the FTC’s consumer protection jurisdiction. Ms. Benway also led investigations and litigated cases as an attorney in the FTC’s Divisions of Privacy and Identity Protection and Marketing Practices. While on detail as Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Ms. Benway provided expertise and advice to Senators, staff and other stakeholders on proposed legislation and consumer protection policy issues. Additionally, she previously served as an Assistant Chief in the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau where she was a member of the agency’s cross-Bureau team developing enforcement strategies under the Communications Act for new and emerging technology industries.

Ms. Benway received her Bachelor’s Degree cum laude from Northeastern University and her J.D. cum laude from Boston College Law School.

Bryan Tramont, Managing Partner of Wilkinson Barker Knauer said, “Kathleen is a terrific addition to Team WBK. Her deep experience in consumer protection law and policy — at the FTC, FCC and on Capitol Hill — will be criticial to all clients as they navigate changes in the marketplace. Her intellect, drive and relationships with key stakeholders will also strengthen our growing consumer protection practice.“

Ms. Benway will be located in the firm’s Washington, DC, office and can be reached at 202.383.3360 and at KBenway@wbklaw.com. Additional information about Ms. Benway can be found at wbklaw.com/Our_team/Kathleen_Benway.