WilmerHale is pleased to announce that Frank Gorman, previously acting deputy director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, has joined the firm as a partner.
Gorman, who will be based in Washington, DC and part of WilmerHale’s Securities and Financial Services Department, adds to the firm’s robust cross-practice capabilities in representing clients contending with federal and state regulatory and enforcement agencies and consumer class actions.
Gorman, who joined the FTC in 1998 and was most recently acting deputy head of its consumer protection bureau, has held multiple, senior-level positions in the bureau.
From 2009 to 2018, he served as assistant director of the bureau’s enforcement division. There he supervised hundreds of enforcement actions, resulting in federal court and administrative orders in every area for which the bureau has jurisdiction, including privacy, financial services, national advertising, health claims, deceptive online marketing, telemarketing, and outright fraud.
In 2018, Gorman became chief of staff to Bureau Director Andrew Smith, a position in which Gorman worked closely with the FTC chair and its commissioners, and the commission’s associate and regional directors. He also managed the day-to-day operations of the bureau. He was promoted to acting deputy in June 2020.
“Clients will benefit tremendously from Frank’s insights, informed as they are by his extraordinary range and depth of experience at the highest levels of consumer protection enforcement,” said Robert Novick, WilmerHale’s co-managing partner. “He offers what clients have come to expect from us, the best chance of success when they confront intense government scrutiny.”
“I chose WilmerHale because it is second to none in government-facing enforcement practices,” Gorman said. “My FTC background complements the firm’s existing industry-leading practices, enhancing its ability to provide top-notch representation to clients facing state and federal consumer protection regulators. WilmerHale is just a great fit for me.”
Before the FTC, Gorman was counsel at another Washington, DC firm. He also was a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Charleston (WV).
Gorman received his JD with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law and his BA cum laude from the same university.