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Laura Kim

Laura Kim has a proven track record of successfully resolving clients’ most important consumer protection matters before the FTC, State AGs, and the NAD. She is well-known for her insider knowledge of the FTC as well as her practical approach to accomplishing her clients’ objectives.

As chair of Covington’s Advertising & Consumer Protection Investigations practice group, Laura represents corporate and individual clients in investigations before the FTC and State Attorneys General. She also provides pragmatic compliance advice on a wide range of consumer protection issues, including substantiating claims involving generative artificial intelligence, environmental benefits, and “Made in USA.” She counsels brands on emerging issues involving influencers, consumer reviews, AI-generated content, and subscription autorenewals. Laura regularly represents both challengers and advertisers before the NAD, achieving favorable outcomes in matters involving artificial intelligence, influencers, and claim substantiation.

During her twelve-year tenure at the FTC, Laura served as Assistant Director in two divisions of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Attorney Advisor to Chairman William E. Kovacic, and Chief of Staff to Bureau Director Jessica Rich. She oversaw major rulemakings—including the Green Guides and the Telemarketing Sales Rule—and supervised dozens of investigations and enforcement actions. As Assistant Director in the Division of Enforcement, Laura also supervised compliance monitoring and enforcement proceedings for companies under federal court or Commission order.

On May 27, 2026, the Connecticut governor signed SB 4, an omnibus privacy law, which among other things, amends the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (“CTDPA”), establishes a data broker registry and accessible deletion mechanism, imposes restrictions on the use of price setting devices and surveillance pricing, and creates requirements for direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies.

Continue Reading Connecticut Enacts Omnibus Privacy Law

On May 11, 2026, the Department of Justice, acting on notification from the Federal Trade Commission, and the Illinois Attorney General, filed a complaint against “Premium Home Service” and its owner for alleged violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act, the Consumer Reviews Rule, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB Act).  The Complaint seeks injunctive relief, monetary relief, and civil penalties.  

Continue Reading FTC and DOJ Continue Focus on Consumer Reviews Rule with Complaint Against Premium Home Service

On May 13, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced that Shutterstock, Inc. had agreed to a $35 million settlement resolving allegations that the company engaged in unfair and deceptive subscription practices. The FTC asserted claims under Section 5 of the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (“ROSCA”), alleging that Shutterstock charged consumers who did not understand they were enrolling in a subscription, failed to adequately disclose material subscription terms, and made cancellation unnecessarily difficult. The complaint did not seek civil penalties, and the final settlement requires only consumer redress. 

Continue Reading FTC Settles with Shutterstock Over Subscription Practices

On April 28, 2026, Maryland Governor Moore signed HB 895 (the Protection From Predatory Pricing Act) into law, which will impose limitations on the use of personalized pricing in the food retail and grocery delivery context.  The law will go into effect on October 1, 2026.  As we have detailed in prior blog posts, there has been a wave of personalized pricing proposals at the state level, and the FTC is focusing attention on pricing in the grocery sector.

Continue Reading Maryland Enacts Law on Personalized Food Pricing

On April 14, 2026, the FTC announced three settlements and issued closing letters to two additional companies concerning “Made in America,” “Made in the USA,” and similar U.S.‑origin claims (collectively, “MUSA claims”).  These actions reflect the FTC’s continued focus on MUSA claims and, more broadly, the Trump administration’s focus on

Continue Reading FTC Sweep on “Made in the USA” Claims

On April 14, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “Commission”) announced an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPRM”) seeking public comment on whether a new rule is needed to address fee practices by online food and grocery delivery platforms that may obscure total pricing or impede consumers’ ability to

Continue Reading FTC Seeks Comment by May 18 on Food Delivery Pricing and Fees

On March 12, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPRM”) seeking public comment on a proposed rulemaking focusing on potential unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the rental housing market. This ANPRM contemplates requiring landlords and property managers to provide full, upfront

Continue Reading FTC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rulemaking for Unfair or Deceptive Rental Housing Fee Practices

On March 11, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “the Commission”) announced an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPRM”) regarding its Rule Concerning the Use of Prenotification Negative Option Plans, commonly known as the Negative Option Rule (“the Rule”).  This ANPRM signals the beginning of a rulemaking process that will expand the scope of the rule and drive a major priority for the Trump-Vance FTC. 

The ANPRM was published in the Federal Register on March 13, 2026.  Comments from the public are due on April 13, 2026.  After reviewing the record developed through the ANPRM, the Commission may decide whether to proceed to a notice of proposed rulemaking, propose specific amendments, or take no further action.

Continue Reading FTC Negative Option Rule ANPRM

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is poised to re-start a rulemaking process regarding disclosures and requirements for subscription and auto-renewing products and services.  On January 30, 2026, the FTC submitted a draft Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on the Rule Concerning the Use of Prenotification Negative Option Plans (the Rule), commonly known as the Negative Option Rule, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review. 

Continue Reading FTC Restarts Negative Option Rulemaking Process

On December 22, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued an order setting aside its 2024 final consent order against Rytr, LLC (“Rytr”) on the grounds that the facts alleged in the Rytr complaint did not violate Section 5.  The Commission further found that the Rytr order did not provide any

Continue Reading FTC Sets Aside Rytr Final Order Pursuant to White House AI Action Plan