Karen F. Lederer is a partner at Troutman Sanders LLP and the head of the firm’s Consumer Law/Trade Regulation practice group. Ms. Lederer regularly advises retailers, manufacturers, and other providers of consumer goods and services on legal compliance in the areas of advertising; price advertising; special offers; coupons and rebates; gift card programs; loyalty programs; telemarketing, e-marketing and in-home sales; sweepstakes and contests; CPSC requirements and product recalls; and warranty practices. She represents companies in federal, state and local regulatory investigations, including matters before the FTC, CPSC, State Attorneys General across the country and local consumer protection agencies.

She also represents companies of all stripes in complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts, arbitrations and mediations.

Since 1997, Ms. Lederer has been the Co-Editor of the Consumer Law Newsletter (formerly, the Retail Law Newsletter), a publication that reports on legal issues of particular interest to retailers and other providers of consumer goods and services.

Ms. Lederer sits on the board of Cool Culture, a non-profit organization founded in 1999, which provides 50,000 low-income families with free, unlimited admission to the City’s finest cultural institutions.

Presentations and Speaking Engagements
Speaker, “Charitable Sales Promotions,” October 26, 2009.

Speaker, "Hot Topics in Retailing Law," CLE Seminar, June 23, 2009.

Speaker, "The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008," February 10, 2009.

Speaker, "Understanding & Complying with Sweepstakes & Promotions Law," CLE Seminar, December 12, 2008.

Representative Experience
Trade Regulation Investigations and Litigation

Representing an accounting firm in litigation brought by the FTC involving an alleged internet scam

Representing an equipment leasing company in fraud investigations by five State Attorneys General

Representing a snack food manufacturer in investigations by the Connecticut Attorney General and the Sacramento County (CA) District Attorney into nutrition labeling under the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act and health claims made for botanical ingredients

Representing a regional department store chain in an investigation by the New York Attorney General into comparative price advertisements

Representing a chain of cosmetology schools in an investigation by the New York State Department of Education into compliance with state education regulations

Representing a national retail chain in investigations by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs into the chain’s advertising and practices regarding rebates, “price matching,” “no interest” and refunds

Representing an international bus transportation company in administrative proceedings before the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs stemming from alleged violations of New York City’s sightseeing bus licensing law

Handling product recalls before the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Complex Commercial Litigation

Representing various nationwide sellers of consumer goods and services as defendants in consumer class actions

Representing an equipment lessor in an arbitration in which the lessor asserted the “hell or high water” doctrine

Representing the owners of a majority interest in an apparel manufacturer in dispute over valuation of the business with the minority owner

Representing an Industrial Development Agency in an Art. 78 proceeding in which a union and its affiliated trade councils argued that the IDA had violated its Prevailing Wage Policy

Representing various companies in actions against former employees for diversion of corporate opportunities and breach of duty

Representing a medical technology company in an action by an investment bank for fraud and breach of an exclusive placement agent agreement in connection with a private offering of securities

Representing tenant under a 99-year ground lease in action to vacate arbitration award setting new rent, on grounds the “neutral” third arbitrator was partial to the landlord

Representing a restaurant chain in an action against a licensee to terminate the license and the licensee's right to use the chain’s unregistered trademarks

Representing a website design firm in a “reverse passing off” case against former employee

Representing clothing and home furnishings manufacturers, as plaintiffs and defendants, in trade dress infringement cases

Consumer Credit Counseling and Litigation

Counseling various banks, sales finance companies and retailers on issues arising under Truth-in-Lending, Equal Credit Opportunity, Fair Credit Reporting, Fair Debt Collection Practices and Holder In Due Course Rules

Representing debt collection agencies in an industry-wide investigation by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs

Representing a debt collection agency in class action lawsuit brought under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Representing a sales finance company in Truth-in-Lending litigation brought by the New York Attorney General alleging hidden finance charges

Publications
Co-editor (1997-present) of the Consumer Law Newsletter (formerly Retail Law Newsletter), a publication which reports on legal issues of particular interest to providers and advertisers of consumer goods and services