Mikhia E. Hawkins is an associate in the firm’s Regulatory Practice Group with a focus on advertising and marketing law.  He counsels clients of various types with respect to consumer protection and unfair competition matters, including legal issues related to all forms of advertising, sales practices, product or service development, consumer financial services, warranties, promotions, and consumer privacy.  Mr. Hawkins has significant experience representing clients in connection with investigations by the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and state regulators, as well as inquiries from the National Advertising Division, the Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program, and television networks.  He also represents companies in litigation concerning advertising and marketing practices, including class actions, lawsuits brought by regulators, and cases involving competitors. In addition, Mr. Hawkins has participated on behalf of clients in the Federal Trade Commission’s rulemaking process.

Mr. Hawkins has represented a wide variety of clients, including e-commerce firms, brick-and-mortar consumer product companies, direct response marketers, telecommunication firms, dietary supplement companies, trade and professional associations, advertising and promotional marketing agencies, payment processors, quick-serve restaurants, and telemarketers.

Significant Matters

Mr. Hawkins has represented numerous clients before advertising self-regulatory entities, including the National Advertising Division (NAD)and the Electronic Retail Self-Regulation Program (ERSP).  Such work has included assistance with challenges to competitors’ advertising and responses to challenges targeting clients’ advertisements, as well as responses to inquiries internally initiated by the NAD and ERSP.  The NAD and ERSP cases on which Mr. Hawkins has worked involved advertising for a wide range of consumer products, including, for example, dietary supplements, food products, over-the-counter medicines, and information technology products. 

Mr. Hawkins frequently assists clients in responding to regulatory investigations by federal and state regulators, including regulatory inquiries concerning, for example, affiliate marketing and other online marketing practices, dietary supplements, telemarketing, and consumer debt settlement services. 

Mr. Hawkins has also performed regulatory compliance audits for consumer products or service companies as well as for investment companies targeting consumer product or service firms for potential investment opportunities. 

In addition, Mr. Hawkins has negotiated and drafted various business contracts for clients, including agreements relating to endorsements, sponsorships, advertising and promotional agency services, lead generation services, and affiliate marketing.