Webcast: DOJ’s Consumer Protection Branch

Webcasts  |  May 31, 2023

In this webcast, Gibson Dunn attorneys discuss how the U.S. Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch has quickly become a leading criminal and civil enforcer of health, safety, fraud, and privacy laws. Having recently secured more than $6 billion in monetary penalties across dozens of corporate resolutions, the Branch is now DOJ’s fastest-growing enforcement component. It also is the primary outside counsel for key consumer-protection agencies, including the FDA, FTC, CPSC, DEA, and DOT. Our discussion will feature the Branch’s recent Director and explore its current and expected enforcement trends. We also discuss the Branch’s unique relationships with agency partners, its resources and authorities, and new corporate compliance policies and expectations. The conversation is of particular interest to life-sciences, consumer-product, and online companies and executives.

PANELISTS:

Patrick F. Stokes is a litigation partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Washington, D.C. office. He is the co-chair of the Anti-Corruption and FCPA Practice Group and a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense and Investigations, Securities Enforcement, and Litigation Practice Groups. Mr. Stokes’ practice focuses on internal corporate investigations, government investigations, enforcement actions regarding corruption, securities fraud, and financial institutions fraud, and compliance reviews. He has tried more than 30 federal jury trials as first chair, including high-profile white-collar cases, and handled 16 appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Mr. Stokes regularly represents companies and individuals before DOJ and the SEC, in court proceedings, and in confidential internal investigations.

Nicola T. Hanna is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and co-chair of the firm’s global White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Group. Previously, Mr. Hanna served as United States Attorney for the Central District of California in Los Angeles, where he represented the United States in all criminal, civil, national security and tax matters within the district. Mr. Hanna’s practice focuses on representing corporations in high-stakes civil litigation, white collar crime, and regulatory and securities enforcement – including internal investigations, False Claims Act cases, special committee representations, compliance counseling and class actions.

Gustav W. Eyler is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is co-chair of the firm’s FDA and Health Care Practice Group and a member of the White Collar Defense and Privacy Practice Groups. An experienced litigator and a former Director of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, he defends companies and individuals in government investigations and enforcement actions and counsels clients on the design and implementation of compliance programs.

Svetlana S. Gans is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where she helps clients navigate complex consumer protection (advertising, marketing, privacy, and right to repair) and competition related regulatory proceedings before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, and other enforcement bodies, and provides strategic advice on related public policy issues. She previously served with distinction as Chief of Staff to Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen at the FTC. As the agency chief of staff, Ms. Gans managed and oversaw agency operations, including bureau and office heads reporting to the Chairman, a seven-member office staff, and an agency budget of over $300 million.