Former Senior FTC Official Joins Kelley Drye, Further Bolstering Privacy and Advertising Practices

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP today announced that Laura Riposo VanDruff has joined the firm’s Privacy and Advertising practice groups. She is a former top official at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with Ms. VanDruff as an Assistant Director in BCP’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection (DPIP).

“Privacy law is changing at an exponential pace as numerous states enact new comprehensive privacy laws, and the FTC and State Attorneys General prioritize privacy and information security enforcement,” said Alysa Hutnik, Chair of Kelley Drye’s Privacy and Information Security practice. ​“Laura is a revered privacy law and policy trailblazers, and her addition further bolsters the firm’s capabilities, especially with respect to their specialized expertise in digital advertising and data analytics, information security, consumer financial services, data governance and data breach preparedness. Her experience and insight will be extremely valuable in helping our clients prepare for the future of privacy and evolving consumer protection law.”

Ms. VanDruff joins an impressive list of former FTC officials at Kelley Drye, including the firm’s managing partner, Dana Rosenfeld, who served as Assistant Director of the BCP and attorney advisor to FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky, former Bureau Directors Bill MacLeod and Jodie Bernstein, as well as Aaron Burstein, who joined the firm in 2019, having served as senior legal advisor to FTC Commissioner Julie Brill.

“She adds a level of privacy and advertising legal experience that is unmatched,” said Dana Rosenfeld, Managing Partner of Kelley Drye. ​“I had the pleasure of working with her at the FTC when we were counsel to our mentor Jodie Bernstein and helped her reshape the agency’s focus on emerging issues in electronic commerce and online privacy. Adding Laura to the team strengthens an already impressive practice group that is key to the success of our clients and the firm.”

Ms. VanDruff brings a depth of experience to Kelley Drye. As Assistant Director for the FTC’s Division of Privacy & Identity Protection, Ms. VanDruff led the investigation and prosecution of matters relating to consumer privacy, credit reporting, identity theft, and information security. Her work included investigation initiation, pre-trial resolution, trial preparation, and trial practice relating to unreasonable software security, mobile operating system security update practices, and many other information privacy and identity protection issues.

She joins the firm from AT&T where she served as an Assistant Vice President – Senior Legal Counsel advising business clients on consumer protection risks, developing and executing strategies in response to regulatory inquiries, and participating in policy initiatives within the company and across industry.

“I am delighted to be joining Kelley Drye,” said Ms. VanDruff. ​“I have long-admired the firm’s commitment to excellence in representing their clients in privacy, data security, and consumer protection matters. I look forward to adding a complementary perspective to the outstanding counsel that the firm’s clients receive already.”

About Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Founded in 1836, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP is home to skilled practitioners in the areas of litigation, trade, regulatory, government relations, real estate, corporate, and more. A powerhouse firm with the heart of a boutique, the firm’s attorneys provide legal counsel carefully connected to their client’s business strategies. Among the firm’s recent awards: Named to the BTI ​“Client Service A-Team”; recognized by CLOC for ​“Legal Innovation and Design Excellence in Legal Operations”; Chambers USA identified seven practice areas as ​“Leaders in Their Field”; Law360 named the Consumer Protection Practice Group as Group of the Year; and Kelley Drye was named one of ​“America’s Best Law Firms” by U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms, with a ​“Tier 1” national ranking in Communications, Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation, Information Technology, Trusts & Estates, and Real Estate.