Photo of Timothy A. Butler

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.

On June 4, 2024, the CFPB released a circular cautioning companies against including unlawful or unenforceable terms and conditions in contracts for consumer financial products or services. The circular asserts

Continue Reading CFPB Warns Against Deceptive Fine-Print Tactics Targeting Consumers

On May 30, 2024, the CFPB issued a new request for information (RFI) from the public regarding “why closing costs are increasing, who is benefiting, and how costs for borrowers

Continue Reading CFPB Launches Public Inquiry into Rising Mortgage Closing Costs and ‘Junk Fees’

The FTC recently took action against bill payment company Doxo and its co-founders, accusing them of engaging in deceptive “junk fee” practices that harmed consumers. The FTC’s complaint alleges that Doxo used misleading search ads and deceptive designs to conceal millions of dollars in “junk fees.”
Continue Reading FTC Takes Action Against Doxo, Citing Junk Fees

On May 8, 2024, the California Attorney General released a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help businesses comply with SB 478, California’s soon-to-be effective “Hidden Fees Statute,”

Continue Reading California AG Publishes FAQs on California’s ‘Junk Fee’ Law

On May 16, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court held 7-2 in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) (Docket No. 22-448) that the CFPB’s funding

Continue Reading Supreme Court Holds That CFPB’s Funding Is Constitutional, Clearing Way for Rulemaking Agenda

On April 4, 2024, the CFPB issued a report titled “Banking in Video Games and Virtual Worlds” that examines the financial and privacy risks to consumers in online video gaming

Continue Reading CFPB Releases Report Highlighting Financial and Privacy Risks in Online Video Gaming Marketplaces

On April 1, 2024, California’s legislature introduced Assembly Bill 2863, which proposes amendments to California’s Automatic Renewal Law. If enacted, the proposed amendments would introduce stricter mandates for disclosures, consent, and cancellation processes and further align California’s ARL with the FTC’s proposed changes to its Negative Option Rule.
Continue Reading California Proposes Revisions to Autorenewal Law