Edward “Ed” Burbach chairs Foley & Lardner’s Government Solutions Practice Group, co-chairs Foley’s State Attorneys General and FTC Consumer Practices, and is managing partner of the Austin office.

Ed leverages his experience as both a litigation lawyer and a leading state regulator/enforcer to handle high-stakes regulatory claims for clients. With this unique background, he counsels corporations, individuals, and governmental entities in matters involving local, state, and federal governments – with emphasis on state attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). He and his team members maintain strong relationships with all state attorneys general and their staffs and regularly attend major NAAG, AGA, RAGA, & DAGA state attorneys general meetings. Most recently, Ed led an interdisciplinary Foley team throughout a 7 ½ year investigation (3 1/2 years) and litigation (4 years in Chicago, Trenton, & Dallas federal courts) resulting in a complete September, 28, 2023, federal trial court victory in FTC v. Neora which the media has labeled as “Historic”. Am Law honored Ed by naming him and two other Foley trial partners as “Litigators of the Week” in the U.S. (October 6, 2023).

Over the past three decades Ed has handled Unfair & Deceptive Acts and Practices (UDAP), Medicaid fraud, FTC, price gouging, FOIA/State Public Information Act litigation, and attorney general opinions. He has advised clients on strategy and programs related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG)- related issues and transactions, including, but not limited to state anti-boycott statutes. He has litigated significant government, pharmaceutical, health care provider, retailer, direct sales/multilevel marketing companies, insurance, energy, maritime, financial services, corporate, multistate, and class action claims.

Bernadette Chala is Arbonne’s Chief Legal Officer, overseeing the Legal team, privacy and data protection, regulatory & scientific affairs, and the Business Ethics & Sustainability Team or B.E.S.T., which oversees direct selling compliance and enforcement of the DSA Code of Ethics. Bernadette earned her Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law and is an active member of the State Bar of California. Bernadette loves working at a company where she happily uses its products every day and would like to remind you that you are only as old as your skincare regimen.

Matt Dumiak is the Director of Privacy Services at CompliancePoint. Matt’s focus is U.S. and international privacy regulations. Matt works with clients in a variety of industries and is dedicated to providing practical and reliable consulting and implementation recommendations surrounding risk management. Matt holds the Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US and CIPP/E) certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Katrina is a trial lawyer who concentrates her practice in complex commercial, class action, and intellectual property litigation. Katrina has considerable experience defending and advising direct-selling and multi-level marketing organizations. In 2019, Texas Lawyer recognized Katrina as a “Trailblazer” for her work defending direct-selling businesses facing bet-the-company class actions. She is called in to advise such organizations on Federal Trade Commission and regulatory compliance issues and has successfully defended numerous direct-selling organizations in class actions and other litigation matters.

Eric J. Ellman is an experienced and skilled government affairs and public policy executive with a demonstrated track record of navigating the political headwinds for the consumer data industry.

Eric J. Ellman spent over 25 years at the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) in Washington, D.C., most recently serving as Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Legal Affairs. During his tenure, Eric led the government affairs program, ran the legal department, and participated in the management of the association.

Eric’s work for CDIA was highlighted on the front page of the USA Today Money section in June 2007. In that article, he was called a “warrior” who is “always well-prepared for battle”. Eric was also a featured guest on several podcasts and has spoken at conferences on almost every continent. Eric has testified over 100 times before state legislative committees and appeared in many national and local media stories, including the New York Times and Politico.

Before joining CDIA, Eric worked for the Direct Selling Association (DSA) from 1992 - 1997.

Eric, a native New Yorker, has been involved in government, public service, and politics for most of his life. In 1989, he became the youngest elected official in Maryland when he was elected to the Friendship Heights Village Council, and he went on to serve four terms on that council. Eric made an unsuccessful run for the Maryland state legislature in 1994. 

From 2006 to 2011, Eric served on the Board of Directors of Wonders Child Care, one of the largest non-profit childcare organizations in the DC metro area. Eric is a member of the Board of the Hebrew Free Loan Association of Greater Washington, a nonprofit providing financial assistance to people in need, and sits on the Patient and Family Advisory Committee at Suburban Hospital/Hopkins Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. Eric served on the Board of Directors of Congregation B’nai Tzedek in Potomac, Maryland and was the Vice Chair of the Board of Credit Builders Alliance, an organization dedicated to financial empowerment.

Eric has a B.S. from American University in Washington, D.C. and a law degree from the University of Baltimore.  Eric is a member of the bars of Maryland and Pennsylvania and he CIPP/US certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Adolfo Franco is Executive Vice President at the Direct Selling Association, responsible for managing and directing the government relations efforts for the association in Washington, DC and throughout the United States. In this capacity, he represents the association and the member companies. He works to promote the direct selling industry’s interests with Members of Congress, State Legislatures, as well as both Federal and State regulatory authorities. He also provides advice and counsel to member companies engaged in international activities, including serving as liaison to U.S. Government agencies such as the United States Trade Representative’s Office, Department of Commerce, and Department of State on matters affecting direct selling companies access to foreign markets.

Prior to joining DSA in April 2007, Adolfo was Assistant Administrator for Latin America and Caribbean for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Appointed by President Bush in 2001, and confirmed by the United States in 2002, Adolfo managed and directed the $1.5 billion annual U.S. foreign assistance program for Latin America and the Caribbean and worked to negotiate and implement the Central American and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Adolfo was one of the Bush Administration’s key policymakers, advising the President, Secretary of State, and USAID Administrator on issues involving Cuba, Colombia, Haiti, and Venezuela. Adolfo has met with most of Latin America’s Presidents, Foreign Ministers, and Trade Representatives and has represented the United States as Head of Delegation at numerous bi- and multilateral forums.

Kristin is the Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. She previously served as the Chief of Staff of WHD since 2021. Before joining WHD, Kristin was appointed by Governor Newsom to serve as Special Counsel to the California Labor Commissioner. As Special Counsel, she worked on issues related to California’s paid sick leave laws, the COVID-19 pandemic, misclassification, and retaliation, among others. Kristin also served as Deputy Legal Secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, where she worked on a range of issues, including labor, gender, immigration, and education. During her time in the Governor’s office, Kristin was part of the team that developed landmark legislation to provide childcare workers in California the right to form a union and collectively bargain with the state.

Prior to serving the State of California, she worked as an attorney at Altshuler Berzon LLP, where she represented labor unions and working people. She also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Stephen Reinhardt of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and as a legislative assistant in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs in the Obama Administration. Kristin began her career as a community and political organizer.

She is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Kristin currently lives in Washington, D.C. with her spouse and their two children.

Francisco Ortega is an attorney at law (admitted in Mexico) from the Universidad Panamericana with specialty studies in tax law. He has been dedicated to tax law for more than 22 years and is currently a Partner of Turanzas, Bravo & Ambrosi, one of Mexico’s best ranked tax law firms, based in Mexico City. He specializes in tax consulting and tax controversy, mainly in for the direct selling and energy industries. He is a member and frequent speaker for both the Mexican and U.S. Direct Selling Associations.

Jonathan spent much of his career seeking to solve problems and mitigate online risks for businesses around security, authentication, compliance, fraud and reputation management. His firm, makers of the FieldWatch Compliance Management platform, is a leading provider of global compliance risk monitoring and digital risk mitigation strategies for mid-market and global companies. 

With more than a decade of experience litigating consumer protection cases at the FTC, Ioana Gorecki helps clients address a broad range of advertising and consumer protection issues.

Ioana’s deep understanding of FTC rules, regulations, and investigatory processes allows her to offer unique insights to clients navigating the complexities of an FTC inquiry. That knowledge, coupled with her focus on practical, risk-based advice, has been instrumental in helping clients advance their business objectives while addressing regulators’ concerns.

While her particular focus is on FTC, CFPB, and State AG contested matters, Ioana also engages in compliance counseling in the areas of artificial intelligence, endorsements and reviews, claim substantiation, consumer finance, automatic renewals, and direct sales, among others. Ioana helps clients identify compliance gaps and develop strategies to balance business need with regulatory and litigation risk.

Within her first year in private practice, Ioana was recognized by US Legal 500 in the “Advertising and Marketing: Transaction and Regulatory” category.

Ioana is a Certified Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP), a credential issued by The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Lois C. Greisman heads the Division of Marketing Practices in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, where she directs the agency’s fraud program and several market-focused projects including the Franchise and Business Opportunity Rules. Under Ms. Greisman’s management, Marketing Practices leads the FTC’s law enforcement initiatives tackling telemarketing fraud including Do Not Call/Robocall enforcement; fraudulent business and investment opportunity schemes, including multilevel marketing; mail fraud, including sweepstakes and lotteries; illegal spam; and Internet frauds, including technical support scams. Since 2018, Ms. Greisman has served as the FTC’s Elder Justice Coordinator. 

Jason L. Groves, Esq. is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED).  Jason has served as General Counsel since 2011 (and from 2009 to 2015, he also served as a member of the Medifast board).  Previously, Jason spent ten years with Verizon.  For most of those years, he was the Assistant Vice President of Government Affairs for Verizon Maryland responsible for legislative policy and community affairs.  Jason has a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in Hospitality Management from Bethune-Cookman University, and a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law.  He is a member of the New Jersey and District of Columbia bars as well as several bar associations.  Jason is an Army veteran and entered active duty as a direct commissioned Judge Advocate in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp (JAG), where he also had the distinction of prosecuting criminal cases in the District Court of Maryland as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.  He currently serves as a board member for several organizations, including another public company, NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: NRBO).  Jason is married and resides in Maryland with his wife and two sons.

A converted southern prosecutor, Tori Guidy—aka “the Dame”—has tried dozens of cases against dangerous felons, making her high-stakes litigation practice at Troutman Amin, LLP seem almost dull by comparison. As a complex litigator the Dame checks all the boxes. This tough-as-nails Southern Belle is a fantastic trial lawyer and fierce competitor—a former gymnast and competitive cheerleader(!) who is no stranger to pushing limits. And with a southern accent like hers, she can unlock doors with a mere whisper.

The Dame supports Troutman Amin, LLP's clients in heavily-litigated matters, bringing her tremendous courtroom experience and captivating je ne sais quoi to their full advantage.

Ashley Gum is a U.S. Chamber lawyer and policy leader with expertise in FTC litigation and regulatory strategy.

With two decades of experience in the public and private sectors, he is a seasoned attorney and policy leader who drove AT&T's regulatory objectives and advocacy efforts. Ashley has a strong track record of developing and implementing effective strategies that advance the company's interests and values in the dynamic and complex telecommunications sector.

He is passionate about delivering results that benefit AT&T, its customers, and its partners, while upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.

Gayla brings over 20 years of expertise to advise clients across multiple industries in challenges related to compliance, brand management, affiliate networks, and data analytics.

She is always looking to provide innovative solutions. Her digital marketing and affiliate management background gives her clients insights into online activities and a unique approach to solving marketing issues.

Dedicated to the growth of her client’s industries, she provides compliance expertise, self-regulation programs, and training for across several industries. 

Sandy Jap is the Sarah Beth Brown Professor of Marketing at Emory University, having joined the faculty in 2001. Prior to that she was on the faculty at the Sloan School at MIT and the Wharton faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. She has published widely on the development of organizational relationships, go-to-market strategies, and e-procurement. She is the author of Partnering with the Frenemy, a book on the dark side of business relationships and A Field Guide to Channel Strategy, a how-to book on going to market strategy. She is an international speaker, expert witness, and consultant to a wide range of industries and firms. 

Dr. Jovanovic is an economist with over 20 years of experience providing economic and statistical analyses in litigation, government investigations, and regulatory proceedings. He has extensive experience analyzing the direct selling compensation models of nutrition, supplement, cosmetics, and other life sciences companies. Dr. Jovanovic has provided testimony before the SEC, the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Court of Arbitration, the American Arbitration Association, and various federal and state courts. He has also assisted numerous clients in responding to formal investigations and requests for data and analyses from regulatory entities such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the SEC, offices of State Attorneys General, and self-regulating organizations such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and U.S. stock exchanges. His research has been published in a number of academic and professional journals. He has lectured on economic issues in a variety of continuing legal education forums and previously taught graduate econometrics courses at New York University and Johns Hopkins University. 

Daniel Kaufman brings nearly 25 years of experience with the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection, recently leading the 450-person Bureau as Acting Director, where he oversaw all consumer protection matters, including investigations and cases involving privacy, data security, advertising, influencers, endorsers and other marketing practices.

As Deputy Director of the Bureau for most of the past ten years, Daniel has been involved in virtually every high-profile consumer protection and privacy case brought by the FTC in the past decade, including matters involving some of the largest technology and consumer products companies and matters involving newer start-ups and innovators.

A preeminent thought leader and subject matter expert in advertising and data privacy issues, he is a frequent speaker on consumer protection matters and can provide context for the challenges our clients face regarding privacy and consumer advertising. He has unique insights into what is in store for the industry as the FTC changes direction with new leadership, new priorities, the use of different legal authorities and collaborations with state and federal partners.

Brent Kugler is a seasoned trial lawyer with more than 23 years of experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in complex business disputes. Brent is a prominent attorney in the direct selling industry with extensive experience in representing direct sales, multilevel (MLM) and network marketing companies in lawsuits, arbitrations and regulatory matters across the United States. Brent has also served as an expert witness in litigation involving MLM companies. Formerly the general counsel for a large MLM company, Brent provides comprehensive legal representation to direct sales companies including advice on regulatory issues, distributor policies, and procedures, compensation plans, independent contractor classification, governmental affairs and risk management. Brent is also a frequent speaker and author on developments and trends in the direct sales industry and preparing companies for litigation.

Joe Mariano joined the Direct Selling Association in 1985 and assumed the role of President in 2011. Previously, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As DSA’s Chief Executive Officer who has ultimate responsibility for all association programs and activities, Mariano is charged with providing progressive leadership, development and implementation of Association policies in the fields of government, consumer and international affairs. Mariano represents the Association’s interests in all fifty state capitals and on Capitol Hill. He serves as a personal resource to direct selling companies who need overall guidance on general legal and business trends that affect direct sellers both in the United States and worldwide. Mariano also serves as President of the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF).

Peter C. Marinello is a Vice President at BBB National Programs. In this role, he serves as Director of BBB National Programs' Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), a national advertising self-regulation program for the direct selling industry.

Mr. Marinello has over 25 years of experience in advertising self-regulation, starting as a staff attorney at the Council of Better Business Bureaus—now BBB National Programs—National Advertising Division (NAD) in March of 1993, and later becoming NAD Associate Director in 1998.

Mr. Marinello has written over 1,500 self-regulatory decisions on various advertising topics and products including earnings claims, online advertising, negative option offers, dietary supplements, nuclear energy, and financial services, and has spoken on behalf advertising self-regulation at trade conferences and workshop seminars throughout the country.

He has also authored a number of articles regarding advertising self-regulation in various trade publications. Prior to joining BBB National Programs, Mr. Marinello practiced law for six years at a general litigation firm in New York City.

He has appeared in court in each of the five boroughs of New York, as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties, and is also admitted to New York’s Southern and Eastern District Courts of the United States.

Mr. Marinello received his bachelor's degree at New York University and is a graduate of St. John's University School of Law. Mr. Marinello has been a member of the New York State Bar since 1988.

Ms. Alissa Neufeld is the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for LifeVantage Corporation, a nutraceutical dietary supplement and skin care company distributing its products in sixteen countries. Ms. Neufeld manages enterprise risk and global regulatory compliance and provides legal counsel to the company related to corporate governance, corporate finance, securities, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, intellectual property, employment, regulatory, operations, sales and marketing, and business development matters. Prior to joining LifeVantage, Ms. Neufeld served as the Chief Compliance Officer, Deputy General Counsel, and Assistant Corporate Secretary for Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc., a natural health and wellness company in more than forty countries. Her positions prior to joining Nature’s Sunshine include Associate General Counsel at 1-800 Contacts, Inc., Business and Finance Associate at Ballard Spahr LLP, and Law Clerk for Ninth Circuit Judge Rawlinson. Ms. Neufeld received a Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Nevada Las Vegas, where she received a full academic scholarship, and a B.A. in International Affairs with an international economics concentration and a Minor in Spanish from The George Washington University, where she received a Presidential Merit Scholarship. 

Bonnie Patten is Executive Director and co-Founder of truthinadvertising.org (TINA.org), a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization focused on protecting consumers from false advertising and deceptive marketing. From its inception, Truth in Advertising (TINA.org) has worked to expose brazen falsehoods in marketing for what they are, whether it’s fly-by-night operations hawking obscure products or the marketing activities of the nation’s largest corporations. TINA.org’s work has uncovered deceptive practices and false advertising that often target vulnerable consumers, from senior citizens to parents of children with disabilities to families in economic distress.

Bonnie provides the overall vision, leadership, and direction to help TINA.org achieve its mission and strategic goals. Her commitment to educating the public about deceptive marketing and fraudulent ads stems from her belief that education is the only viable way to effectively eradicate the market of false ads.

Since launching TINA.org, the organization has filed more than 200 legal actions, published more than 1,000 ad alerts, written over 800 news articles, and tracked more than 2,000 federal class actions alleging deceptive marketing. Since 2015, state and federal agencies have fined companies more than $250 million based on TINA.org legal actions, and returned millions in ill-gotten gains to consumers.

Bonnie has testified before Congress on issues related to consumer protection, deceptive marketing and economic justice. She is a regular commentator in the media including appearances on NBC, CBS, ABC, BBC, and CBC, in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Atlantic, The Economist, Los Angeles Times and The Boston Globe, and on podcasts such as The Dream.

Bonnie is the recipient of the 2019 Florence Kelley Consumer Leadership Award from the National Consumers League (NCL) for her work fighting false and deceptive advertising.

Prior to helping found TINA.org, she spent most of two decades working as a litigation attorney in New Haven, CT. She earned her J.D. from Boston University and her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Michael Richards is director of policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center (C_TEC). He manages the Chamber’s artificial intelligence and IT modernization work, which analyzes federal artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and IT modernization policy impacting U.S. businesses. Richards also directs the Chamber’s AI Policy Working Group, which comprises over 100 companies and trade associations, which has developed AI principles.

Before joining the Chamber, Richards served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-15) and served in the same role for Rep. Pete Olson (TX -22) before his retirement. Richards was the lead staffer for Olson’s work as co-chair of the House AI Caucus and the Victims’ Rights Caucus. He also handled the Communication & Technology portfolio for the congressman within the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Richards earned his undergraduate degree at Texas State University and his Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine School of Public Policy.

Ready to take on whatever challenges may come, Eric and his team find creative legal solutions for everything from complex commercial transactions to intellectual property issues, and international business law to food safety.

Eric loves the constant evolution and the excitement of international growth. When he joined the team in 2009, Scentsy only operated in the U.S. As the years passed, Eric never suffered much idle time as Scentsy expanded to operate in 11 countries, each with new laws and regulations to consider.

When he isn’t at Scentsy, Eric can usually be found outdoors on a pair of skis or riding his mountain bike. His wonderful wife and three energetic kids are usually willing to go along.

Described as an “impact player” by Texas Lawyer and “simply excellent” by The Legal 500, John Sanders is a trial lawyer, whose national practice focuses on complex business litigation and class actions. John is a founding partner of the Dallas office of Winston and Strawn LLP, where he serves as its hiring partner.

John’s experience defending and advising direct-selling organizations is particularly deep. He has been retained by nearly half of all direct-selling companies that have faced class-action pyramid scheme litigation in the last several years and has successfully defeated multiple claims filed against direct-selling companies.

In 2019, Texas Lawyer recognized John as a “Trailblazer” for his work defending direct-selling businesses facing bet-the-company class actions. John regularly advises dozens of companies in the industry on regulatory compliance, government investigations, policies and procedures, compensation plans, the protection of trade secrets, unlawful distributor solicitations, and downline raiding.

John was recently invited to join the exclusive Sedona Conference Working Group on Trade Secrets. He is currently ranked by Chambers USA as one of the best commercial litigators in the country, nominated as a Best Lawyer in Dallas for business litigation by D Magazine, and selected as a “Super Lawyer” in Texas. 

BBB National Programs Howard J. Smith is a Senior Staff Attorney with the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC).

Prior to joining DSSRC, Howard was a commercial counselor and litigator in private practice handling complex matters across a broad array of subject matters including false advertising disputes, intellectual property, and bankruptcy matters.

Howard has substantial first and second chair trial experience as well as experience counselling a wide variety of commercial clients. Howard’s notable achievements for varied clients include successfully arguing an appeal to the Second Circuit for a Fortune 200 client, winning two breach of contract trials in New York state court, winning a defense verdict in a two-week jury trial in California state court, obtaining dismissal of all claims against his client in a “bet the company” advertising and trademark dispute, and favorably resolving as co-counsel seven litigations arising from real estate investments in excess of $1 billion.

Howard also has significant experience in advertising disputes before the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs and with consumer perception surveys in both NAD and Lanham Act matters. In addition to his work at DSSRC, Howard has also handled matters brought before NAD.

Katy Spicer has over two decades of leadership experience, including leading US Marines across three combat tours and later as a Marine commander. Over the years, Katy has built an affinity for doing hard things alongside remarkable teammates. She leverages her leadership and team building talents to solve clients’ complex legal matters with a particular focus on consumer protection litigation, enforcement, and cybersecurity incident response investigations.

John Villafranco is an authority on a range of issues involving consumer protection law. John represents clients in advertising substantiation proceedings and investigations conducted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and State Attorneys General, in consumer class action cases in state and federal court, and in Lanham Act litigation. John was part of the team that negotiated the historic settlement in FTC v Herbalife and he has been a leading voice in promoting a culture of compliance among direct selling companies. Notably, John worked with BBBNP leadership in the establishment of the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council and conceived of and created the Direct Selling Compliance Professionals Certification Program - programs intended to promote best practices in the industry. John has authored numerous articles on advertising law and is ranked as a leading practitioner by Chambers USA.

Swiss-born business leader and corporate attorney for Young Living, the global leader in essential oils and a pioneer in natural wellness.