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Laura Kim

Laura Kim has a proven track record of successfully resolving clients’ most important consumer protection matters before the FTC, State AGs, and the NAD. She is well-known for her insider knowledge of the FTC as well as her practical approach to accomplishing her clients’ objectives.

As chair of Covington’s Advertising & Consumer Protection Investigations practice group, Laura represents corporate and individual clients in investigations before the FTC and State Attorneys General. She also provides pragmatic compliance advice on a wide range of consumer protection issues, including substantiating claims involving generative artificial intelligence, environmental benefits, and “Made in USA.” She counsels brands on emerging issues involving influencers, consumer reviews, AI-generated content, and subscription autorenewals. Laura regularly represents both challengers and advertisers before the NAD, achieving favorable outcomes in matters involving artificial intelligence, influencers, and claim substantiation.

During her twelve-year tenure at the FTC, Laura served as Assistant Director in two divisions of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Attorney Advisor to Chairman William E. Kovacic, and Chief of Staff to Bureau Director Jessica Rich. She oversaw major rulemakings—including the Green Guides and the Telemarketing Sales Rule—and supervised dozens of investigations and enforcement actions. As Assistant Director in the Division of Enforcement, Laura also supervised compliance monitoring and enforcement proceedings for companies under federal court or Commission order.

State legislatures have passed new laws focused on disclosing the use of AI in advertisements or depictions of individuals. On September 16, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1050, a new law requiring disclosures when certain advertisements prominently feature a “synthetic performer.”  This was one of several AI-related measures…

Continue Reading New AI Transparency Requirements Enacted for Advertisers and Deployers

On June 2, 2026, Colorado Governor Jared Polis vetoed HB 26-1210, a bill that would have imposed requirements for use of “surveillance data” to set individualized prices for consumers or individualized wage setting for workers. The veto is yet another action in a trend of bills focused on regulating “surveillance” or “dynamic” pricing.

Continue Reading Colorado Governor Vetoes Overly Broad Algorithmic Pricing and Wage Setting Bill

On July 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge William Q. Hayes granted a motion for preliminary injunction barring California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the State of California from enforcing SB 343, California’s “Truth in Recycling” law, while the litigation proceeds. The order is significant not merely because it pauses a major labeling regime shortly before its October 2026 compliance date, but because the Court found that the challengers are likely to prevail on both of their core constitutional theories: that key provisions of SB 343 are unconstitutionally vague under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, and that the statute impermissibly restricts commercial speech under the First Amendment.

Continue Reading California Court Issues a Preliminary Injunction Stopping Enforcement of SB 343, “Truth in Recycling”

On July 23, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed A4085 (the Fair Price Protection Act) into law, which prohibits companies from charging consumers different prices for groceries based on their personal data. New Jersey will join New York, Connecticut, and Maryland in imposing prohibitions and requirements on the use of personal data in determining pricing. Most provisions of the law will take effect on August 1, 2027.

Continue Reading New Jersey Enacts Ban on Surveillance Pricing

On July 1, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued a proposed policy statement addressing what it describes as the “suppression of accuracy” in artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems and is seeking public comment through July 31, 2026. The proposal was issued pursuant to Executive Order 14365, Ensuring a National…

Continue Reading FTC Seeks Comment on Proposed Policy Statement Addressing AI Accuracy and Output Steering

On June 29, 2026, in a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that (1) the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) statutory “for‑cause” removal protection for Commissioners violates the Constitution’s separation of powers and (2) President Trump lawfully removed Rebecca Slaughter from the FTC. The Court concluded that because FTC Commissioners…

Continue Reading Supreme Court Holds FTC Removal Protections Unconstitutional

On May 27, 2026, the Connecticut governor signed SB 4, an omnibus privacy law, which among other things, amends the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (“CTDPA”), establishes a data broker registry and accessible deletion mechanism, imposes restrictions on the use of price setting devices and surveillance pricing, and creates requirements…

Continue Reading Connecticut Enacts Omnibus Privacy Law

On May 11, 2026, the Department of Justice, acting on notification from the Federal Trade Commission, and the Illinois Attorney General, filed a complaint against “Premium Home Service” and its owner for alleged violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act, the Consumer Reviews Rule, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB…

Continue Reading FTC and DOJ Continue Focus on Consumer Reviews Rule with Complaint Against Premium Home Service

On May 13, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced that Shutterstock, Inc. had agreed to a $35 million settlement resolving allegations that the company engaged in unfair and deceptive subscription practices. The FTC asserted claims under Section 5 of the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act…

Continue Reading FTC Settles with Shutterstock Over Subscription Practices

On April 28, 2026, Maryland Governor Moore signed HB 895 (the Protection From Predatory Pricing Act) into law, which will impose limitations on the use of personalized pricing in the food retail and grocery delivery context.  The law will go into effect on October 1, 2026.  As we have detailed…

Continue Reading Maryland Enacts Law on Personalized Food Pricing