Law firm Cravath hires former FTC Commissioner Noah Phillips as partner

Former Federal Trade Commissioner Noah Phillips has joined the antitrust practice of law firm Cravath as a partner.

He left the federal agency on Oct. 14 after serving as a commissioner since 2018. In that role he helped to lead major enforcement actions and regulatory actions across antitrust, consumer protection, data security and privacy.

Phillips received a J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2005 and an A.B. from Dartmouth College in 2000. He began his career at New York-based investment bank Wasserstein Perella & Co., and worked in Cravath’s litigation department between 2006 and 2011.

Prior to join the FTC, he worked as chief counsel to U.S. Senator and former Assistant Majority Leader John Cornyn, R-Texas, on the Senate Judiciary Committee. In that post he advised on a range of issues including on administrative law, antitrust, bankruptcy and constitutional law.

Commenting on the appointment, Cravath’s Presiding Partner Faiza Saeed said: “Noah has served as an FTC Commissioner during a very dynamic period for antitrust enforcement and rulemaking.”

She added: “His depth of experience and perspective on the current antitrust and regulatory landscape will be invaluable to our clients.”

Phillips said: “The incredible team at Cravath has an unparalleled record of success in handling the most complex, high-impact antitrust matters, which define the legal landscape.”

He added: “It has been a tremendous honor to serve as Commissioner of the FTC, and I am thrilled to return to Cravath—where I began my legal career and trained—as it opens its Washington, D.C. office.”

Phillips’ departure leaves the consumer protection agency’s five-member commission with a Republican vacancy. 

Each FTC commissioner is nominated by the U.S. president and confirmed by the Senate. They serve a seven-year term, and no more than three can be of the same political party.