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Tim Butler helps companies thrive by developing tailored strategies to address their regulatory compliance challenges and vigorously defending them in government enforcement actions and bet-the-company lawsuits.

A former prosecuting attorney for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and former senior official in the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, Tim has led the defense of dozens of government investigations and enforcement actions brought by the FTC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the various state attorneys general. Tim also regularly defends clients in bet-the-company lawsuits, including complex business disputes and consumer class actions alleging privacy, false advertising, and unfair or deceptive business practice claims.

Tim is an experienced guide for companies struggling with regulatory complexity. He offers clear advice that helps his clients meet the demands of the ever-growing set of laws and regulations governing data privacy and cybersecurity, advertising and marketing practices, and consumer financial products and services. Clients rely on Tim’s business-minded and practical strategies to address their most difficult regulatory compliance challenges.

A graduate of the University of Chicago and Stanford Law School, Tim is a prolific author and regularly speaks to industry and trade groups about the evolving privacy landscape, about cutting-edge issues affecting payments and fintech companies, and about developments at the FTC, the CFPB, and within the state attorneys general community.

The Federal Trade Commission’s Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, sometimes called the “Junk Fees Rule,” took effect on May 12, 2025. In advance of that effective date, the FTC published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to provide guidance to consumers and businesses regarding the Rule.
Continue Reading FTC Issues FAQs on ‘Junk Fees’ Rule

On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it “will not prioritize enforcement or supervision actions” related to obligations imposed by its Small Business Lending Rule (under Regulation B) against entities not covered by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ stay in Texas Bankers Association v. CFPB, No. 24-40705.
Continue Reading CFPB Will Not Enforce Small Business Lending Rule

On April 29, 2025, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit against Roku, Inc., alleging that the company collects and monetizes personal data from children without proper consent. The lawsuit claims that Roku’s practices violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other privacy laws.

Michigan Attorney General’s Allegations

In its complaint

On April 29, 2025, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit against Roku, Inc., alleging that the company collects and monetizes personal data from children without proper consent. The lawsuit claims that Roku’s practices violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other privacy laws.
Continue Reading Michigan Attorney General Takes Action Against Roku, Alleging COPPA Violations

On April 16, 2025, eight state regulators announced the formation of a collaborative privacy enforcement and information sharing consortium. This coalition signals a more unified and robust approach to privacy enforcement.
Continue Reading State Attorneys General Form Bipartisan Privacy Enforcement Consortium

On March 27, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit and proposed settlement order resolving claims against Cleo AI, a fintech that operates a personal finance mobile banking application through which it offers consumers instant or same-day cash advances.
Continue Reading FTC Alleges Fintech Cleo AI Deceived Consumers

On Feb. 11, 2025, President Trump nominated Jonathan McKernan to be the next director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). If confirmed by the Senate, McKernan would replace Russell Vought, who President Trump designated as acting director of the CFPB on Feb. 7, 2025, a day after Vought was confirmed as the director of

On Nov. 6, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released an administrative complaint and accepted a proposed consent order resolving claims against GGL Projects, Inc., an AI-enabled customer review platform that does business as Sitejabber. The FTC alleges that Sitejabber provides its ecommerce clients with the ability to (a) collect ratings and reviews from consumers