Alston & Bird has expanded its privacy and cybersecurity litigation practice in Washington, D.C. with partner, Kathleen Benway. Benway, a former U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chief of staff, brings exceptional experience at the FTC, FCC, and in the Senate with consumer protection law and policy, especially in privacy and data security. She arrives from Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP.
Benway has more than 12 years of service at the FTC, including most recently as chief of staff for the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP). While at the FTC, Benway served as chief of staff to three former directors of the agency’s BCP, where she managed day-to-day operations, represented the bureau in interactions with FTC commissioners, and assisted with congressional relations.
Benway also held a number of other positions at the FTC. In addition to serving as attorney advisor to former FTC Commissioner Julie Brill and counsel to the director of the BCP, she led investigations and litigated enforcement actions as a senior attorney in the bureau’s Privacy and Identity Protection Division and Marketing Practices Division. Additionally, she served two details as counsel to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where she assisted in investigations and advised senators, staff, and other stakeholders on proposed legislation and policy issues within the FTC’s jurisdiction.
Benway also served at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, where she was assistant chief of the Enforcement Bureau.
The addition of Benway represents the latest expansion of Alston & Bird’s Privacy & Cybersecurity Litigation practice. She follows Wim Nauwelaerts, who joined as partner in the firm’s Brussels office in October, and Amy Mushahwar, who joined as partner in Washington, D.C. in April.
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