Mission
The General Counsel is the Commission's chief legal officer and adviser. The office's
major functions are representing the Commission in court and providing legal counsel to
the Commission, the operating bureaus, and other offices.
The FTC Act authorizes the Commission to represent itself, through its own attorneys,
in a variety of actions in federal court. Thus, the office defends actions seeking
judicial review of Commission cease and desist orders and trade regulation rules, enforces
civil investigative demands and other compulsory process, handles the appellate phase of
suits brought by the Commission for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, and
assists the bureaus in actions for injunctive relief in district court. It also cooperates
with the Department of Justice in defending actions to enjoin agency action, and furnishes
advice and assistance in other litigation activities, including suits for consumer redress
and preparing amicus curiae briefs authorized by the Commission.
The office advises the Commission and the staff on issues of law and policy and helps
assure Commission compliance with such statutes and regulations as the Administrative
Procedure Act, the Government in the Sunshine Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the
Civil Service Reform Act, the Ethics in Government Act, and the Commission's Rules of
Practice. The office is responsible for proposing necessary amendments to the Rules and
various chapters of the Commission's Operating Manual. It also provides advice to the
Commission on adjudicative matters and to the Commission and staff on issues concerning
the agency's jurisdiction, statutory authority, and administration, including matters
relating to regulatory agendas, personnel, contracting, budgeting, and tort claims.
The General Counsel's office prepares responses to formal Congressional requests for
information about Commission actions. It conducts or assists with briefings of
Congressional staff members and prepares or assists in the preparation of testimony for
Congressional hearings. It coordinates the Commission's relations with state Attorneys
General and other state and local law enforcement agencies. The office provides opinions
to Commissioners and staff concerning avoidance of conflicts of interest, decides
applications by former employees for clearance to appear in Commission proceedings, and
reviews and certifies financial disclosure reports. It conducts ethics training in
accordance with the Office of Government Ethics annual training regulation. The office
also decides Freedom of Information Act appeals; requests by state and federal law
enforcement agencies for access to nonpublic documents; and requests for confidential
treatment, in lieu of placement on the public record, of materials submitted to the
Commission. The FTC General Counsel's Office can be reached at (202) 326-2424. |