WilmerHale is pleased to announce that former Federal Trade Commission official Rebecca M. Unruh has joined the firm as a partner as part of its industry-leading team that assists clients with a broad range of FTC and consumer-protection related issues.
Unruh, based in Washington DC, joins from the FTC where she has served in senior leadership roles in the Bureau of Consumer Protection across administrations, most recently as deputy director of the Bureau since 2021.
During her 15 years at the FTC, Unruh oversaw major investigations, litigation, rulemakings and policy decisions across a broad range of consumer protection areas, including financial services, advertising practices, privacy, and compliance with statutes and rules enforced by the FTC, CFPB, DOJ, bank regulators, and state attorneys general.
“Rebecca’s deep FTC knowledge, experience, and practical understanding of how consumer protection enforcement priorities develop will be greatly valued by clients navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment,” said Anjan Sahni, WilmerHale’s managing partner.
As deputy director, Unruh played a central role in major enforcement and policy decisions, including identifying strategic areas of focus, approving investigations, reviewing enforcement recommendations, litigation and settlement strategy, and rulemaking oversight. She worked closely with FTC Commissioners, Bureau leadership, and staff across the agency’s headquarters and eight regional offices, earning respect from career staff and political leaders of both parties. She also coordinated interactions between the FTC and state attorneys general.
“Rebecca’s time at the center of the FTC’s consumer-protection mission means she can provide precisely the kind of insight clients need when facing high-stakes investigations or trying to anticipate regulatory risk,” said Susan Schroeder, chair of WilmerHale’s Securities and Financial Services Department. “Her experience will help us continue to build a comprehensive platform for clients with consumer-facing businesses.”
Unruh joins an extraordinary roster of former government regulators and enforcers from the FTC who have joined the firm in recent years. They include one-time FTC Bureau of Competition officials Susan Musser and Jennifer Milici, both former chief trial counsel; Dominic Vote, former assistant director, and Frank Gorman, former acting deputy director.
“The FTC and other consumer protection enforcers remain highly active, and clients need counsel who understand not only the law, but how agencies assess risk, build cases, and resolve investigations,” said Franca Harris Gutierrez, Chair of WilmerHale’s Financial Institutions Group. “Rebecca’s combination of enforcement judgment, and policy experience makes her a powerful addition to our team.”
Before becoming deputy director, Unruh was assistant director for Regional Operations in the Bureau of Consumer Protection, counsel to the Bureau Director, acting chief of staff in the Division of Financial Practices, and senior attorney in the Division of Financial Practices.
“WilmerHale has a nationally recognized platform for clients facing complex regulatory, enforcement, and litigation challenges,” said Unruh. “I am excited to join a firm with such incredible talent and experience across consumer protection, financial services, and government investigations and litigation, and I look forward to helping clients navigate the evolving priorities of federal and state regulators.”
Before the FTC, Unruh was in private practice at another international law firm where her work included complex civil litigation, and internal and government investigations. She also held government relations and legislative roles at the American Bankers Association and as a US Senate staffer.
Unruh earned her JD, magna cum laude, from New York University School of Law, earning membership in the Order of the Coif. She was also Senior Articles Editor of the NYU Annual Survey of American Law. She earned her BA, cum laude, in Public Policy Studies from Duke University.