Press Releases
The list below contains FTC press releases related to attorney regulation from 1991 to the present. Many of the current press releases contain links to the supporting case documents such as complaint filings and consent orders.
- For Your Information: August 14, 2007
FTC Approves Filing of Staff Comments with the Louisiana State Bar Association Regarding Attorney Advertising; FTC Approves Proposed Divestitures by Service Corp. International, et al.
Commission approval of comments to the Louisiana State Bar Association: The Commission has approved the filing of comments by the staff of the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Bureau of Competition, and Bureau of Economics with the Louisiana State Bar Association concerning revisions to proposed rules on lawyer advertising and solicitation. - For Your Information: May 18, 2007
Commission Approves Proposed Divestiture by Service Corporation International, et al.; FTC Issues Federal Register Notice Concerning Commission’s Leather Guides; Commission Receives Tenth Application for Proposed Divestiture in Matter of SCI/Alderwoods Group; Commission Approves Filing of Staff Comments with Connecticut Superior Court on the Unauthorized Practice of Law - For Your Information: May 15, 2007
FTC Approves Filing of Staff Comments with the Indiana Supreme Court Regarding Attorney Advertising; FTC Receives Petition for Approval of Proposed Divestiture from SCI and Alderwoods Group
Commission approval of comments to the Indiana Supreme Court: The Commission has approved the filing of comments by the staff of the Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Consumer Protection, and Bureau of Economics with the Indiana Supreme Court concerning attorney advertising and solicitation proposed by the Indiana State Bar Association. - For Your Information: May 9, 2007
FTC Approves Filing of Amicus Brief with New Jersey Supreme Court
Commission approval of amicus brief filing: The Commission has approved the filing of an amicus brief with the New Jersey Supreme Court related to the issue of attorney advertising. - For Your Information: April 30, 2007
Federal Register Notice Issued on Authorized Generic Drug Study; FTC/DOJ File Joint Comments with NY State Assembly Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law - For Your Information: March 23, 2007
Commission Staff Submits Comments to Florida State Bar on Computer-Accessed Attorney Communications
The Commission has authorized the staffs of the Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Economics, Bureau of Competition, and Bureau of Consumer Protection to submit joint comments to the Florida State Bar regarding proposed revisions to the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct pertaining to computer-accessed communications. - For Your Information: March 16, 2007
FTC Staff Files Comments with Louisiana State Bar Association on Attorney Advertising; Commission Approves Final Consent Order in Matter of Kinder Morgan, Inc.
The Commission has authorized the staffs of the Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Economics, Bureau of Consumer Protection, and Bureau of Competition to submit joint comments to the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) regarding proposed revisions to the rules of professional responsibility with respect to attorney advertising.
2006
- For Your Information: September 15, 2006
Commission Approves Staff Comments on Attorney Advertising to New York Unified Court System; FTC Staff Issues Advisory Opinion Concerning the NPIA to St. John’s Health System
The Commission has approved comments by the staffs of the Office of Policy Planning, the Bureau of Consumer Protection, and the Bureau of Economics to the New York State Unified Court System regarding proposed amendments to its rules governing attorney advertising. - For Your Information: June 27, 2006
FTC/DOJ File Joint Comments with NY State Assembly Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law
The Commission has authorized the filing of comments, prepared jointly with the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division, with the New York State Assembly Committee on the Judiciary regarding proposed legislation to expand the scope of activities constituting the unauthorized practice of law. - For Your Information: May 31, 2006
FTC Files Joint Amicus Brief with DOJ in Matter of Weyerhaeuser Co. v. Ross-Simmons Hardwood Lumber Co.; Commission Approves J&J Petition to Reopen and Set Aside Guidant Order; FTC Staff Files Comments with Texas State Bar on Attorney Online Matching
Commission approval of joint amicus brief filing: The Commission has authorized the staff to file a joint amicus brief with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in the case of Weyerhaeuser Co. v. Ross-Simmons Hardwood Lumber Co., No. 05-381 (S. Ct.); Commission approval of petition to reopen and set aside decision and order: The Commission has granted a petition filed by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Corporation, requesting that the FTC reopen and set aside the entire decision and order concerning J&J’s proposed acquisition of Guidant Corporation (Guidant); Commission authorization of staff comments to the State Bar of Texas: The Commission has authorized the staffs of the Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Competition, and Bureau of Economics to file a comment with the Professional Ethics Committee of the State Bar of Texas concerning online attorney matching services, which are designed to help consumers find attorneys who are able to handle their legal needs. - For Your Information: March 7, 2006
FTC Staff Files Comments on New Jersey’s Proposed Advertising Guideline 4; Commission Finalizes Teva/Ivax Consent Order
The Commission has authorized the staffs of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Bureau of Economics, and Office of Policy Planning to file a letter with the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Attorney Advertising regarding Proposed Advertising Guideline 4, which would place certain restrictions on the use by lawyers or law firms of endorsements or testimonials from clients.; Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final order related to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s recent acquisition of Ivax Corporation.
- For Release: December 16, 2004
FTC and Justice Department Urge Massachusetts Bar Association to Reject Proposal Restraining Competition Between Lawyers and Nonlawyers
Proposal Likely to Harm Massachusetts Consumers - For Release: October 12, 2004
FTC Staff and Justice Department Urge Massachusetts Legislature to Allow Nonlawyers to Compete with Lawyers For Real Estate Closing Services
Federal Trade Commission staff and the Justice Department today announced a letter urging the Massachusetts House of Representatives to adopt a bill that would enable nonlawyers to compete with lawyers to perform certain real estate closing services. - For Your Information: August 5, 2004
FTC: Ohio Court Should be Guided by Public Interest When Considering Definition of ‘Unauthorized Practice of Law’
The Federal Trade Commission this week filed a brief amicus curiae with the Supreme Court of Ohio in Cleveland Bar Ass’n v. CompManagement, Inc. (Case No.: UPL 02-04). - For Release: June 14, 2004
FTC Charges Attorneys’ Group in Clark County, Washington, with Price-Fixing
“Consortium” Refused to Handle Certain Cases Unless Paid Higher Fees They Demanded - For Your Information: May 25, 2004
Announced Actions for May 25, 2004
The Commission has authorized the filing of a joint amicus brief with the Department of Justice in McMahon v. Advanced Title Services Company of West Virginia, a case before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.The case concerns an opinion by the West Virginia State Bar Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee that would prohibit non-lawyers from performing various real estate settlement functions – including title searching, title reports, closings, and document deliveries.
- For Your Information: October 10, 2003
Announced Actions for October 10, 2003
Approved the proposed sale of assets by J.W. Childs, related to the 2001 purchase of Ralston Purina Company by Nestlé S.A.; approved an amended complaint and authorized the staff to file it in the matter currently pending against Brian Silverman, doing business as Electro Depot, BES Systems, Dallas Tech Surplus, and New York Tech Surplus; approved the transmittal of a letter to the Indiana State Bar Association's (ISBA) Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee concerning a proposed amendment to Indiana Supreme Court Admissions & Discipline Rule 24 to define the practice of law; staff of the FTC's Bureau of Competition has advised counsel for Partlinx LLC that it does not presently intend to recommend law enforcement action in connection with Partlinx's proposed e-commerce joint venture. - For Release: March 21, 2003
Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Urge Georgia Bar Committee to Refrain from Eliminating Nonlawyer Competition for Real Estate Closing-related Business
Proposed Opinion to Adversely Affect Prices and Services for Georgia Consumers - For Release: February 13, 2003
Proposed Definition of the Practice of Law Would Likely Reduce Competition, Harm Consumers
FTC Regional Director Testifies at ABA Task Force Hearing - For Release: December 23, 2002
Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Provide Comments on American Bar Association Proposed Model State Law Defining the Practice of Law
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division on Friday released a joint letter urging the American Bar Association (ABA) to substantially narrow or reject a proposed model definition of the practice of law. - For Release: October 3, 2002
FTC Staff Provides Alabama Supreme Court With Comments on Attorney Advertising Rules
Any Restrictions Should be Tailored to Prevent Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices - For Release: July 11, 2002
Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Urge North Carolina State Bar to Allow Non-Lawyers to Compete for Closing Real Estate Deals
Proposal Would Likely Save Consumers Money - For Release: June 7, 2002
FTC Staff Testify Today in Support of Low-Cost Real Estate Closings in North Carolina
Requiring Lawyers at all Closings Would Decrease Competition and Increase Costs for North Carolina Consumers - For Release: April 2, 2002
Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Urge Rhode Island Legislature to Allow Non-lawyers To Perform Real Estate Closings
Proposed Bill Would Likely Cause Consumers to Pay More - For Your Information: December 19, 2001
Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Provide Comments on North Carolina State Bar Opinions Restricting the Involvement of Non-attorneys in Real Estate Closings and Refinancing Transactions
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division today released a joint letter urging the North Carolina State Bar to reconsider two recently adopted Opinions that would prevent non-lawyers from competing with lawyers to perform real estate closings. - For Your Information: September 20, 1996
Virginia State Bar's Proposal To Require Lawyers for Real Estate Closings Would Likely Harm Consumers, Says FTC and DOJ
Staff of the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice today submitted a joint comment to the Virginia State Bar urging against adoption of the Bar’s proposal to prevent non-lawyers and title company attorneys from handling closings of real estate transactions and refinancings. - For Your Information: March 27, 1991
FTC Staff Says Law Firm Diversification Can Benefit Consumers
Law firm diversification can offer consumers "one-stop shopping" for legal services, and can provide other significant benefits to consumers, the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition staff has said in comments to the American Bar Association ("ABA") on proposed amendments to the ABA's Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
