FTC Investigations

A civil investigative demand, subpoena, voluntary information request, or other contact from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can require your business to make important decisions before you know where the investigation may lead.

At Newman Litigation, we represent businesses and individuals in New York and nationwide in FTC investigations, helping clients understand what the agency is seeking, respond appropriately, and protect their interests from the outset.

Our Brooklyn, NY FTC investigation attorneys review the agency's request, identify immediate response obligations, communicate with investigators, and develop a strategy for next steps. Contact us to discuss the investigation and your response.

We Assess Your Position in an FTC Investigation

Our first step is determining what the FTC is seeking, what prompted the inquiry, and what the investigation could mean for you or your business. An agency request does not always make its significance clear, and responding effectively starts with understanding your position.

FTC communications, the conduct at issue, and the available records can provide important context for identifying potential exposure and determining how to approach the investigation. If the agency is seeking information from you as a third party rather than investigating your conduct directly, we account for that distinction when developing the response.

At this stage, our focus is practical: understand the investigation, identify what requires immediate attention, and establish a response strategy before providing information to the government.

We Handle CIDs, Subpoenas, and Information Requests

Responding to civil investigative demands (CIDs), subpoenas, and other FTC information requests requires careful review of what the agency is demanding. We determine what must be produced, identify potential objections or privilege issues, and guide the collection and review of responsive material.

A CID may require documents, written answers, reports, tangible items, or testimony. When a request is extensive or raises compliance concerns, we can communicate directly with FTC staff about its scope, timing, and other response issues.

Our experience responding to subpoenas and government investigative demands allows us to manage the response as part of the broader defense strategy rather than treating document production as a stand-alone administrative task. We strive to make sure what we provide to the agency is responsive, properly reviewed, and consistent with the client's position in the investigation.

We Address Deadlines and Challenges to FTC Demands

Response deadlines require immediate attention, particularly when the circumstances may support seeking modifications to or challenging the FTC's compulsory process. We assess those options early because the time to raise formal objections can be short. 

Under the FTC's Rules of Practice, a petition to limit or quash compulsory process generally must be filed within 20 days after service, or before the return date if that date is less than 20 days after service. Before filing, counsel must make a good-faith effort to resolve disputed issues with FTC staff. 

When objections are warranted, our government investigations and defense lawyers can pursue those discussions, evaluate potential objections, and prepare a petition to limit or quash when appropriate. Because such a petition can affect both the immediate response and the client's broader relationship with the investigating agency, we consider the strategic consequences rather than treating a formal challenge as an automatic step. 

We Manage Evidence and Protect Sensitive Information

Preserving, collecting, reviewing, and producing information responsive to an FTC investigation requires a controlled process. We help clients manage that process while identifying material that requires additional legal attention, including emails, business records, financial information, internal communications, and electronically stored information across multiple systems. 

Once an investigation or investigative demand is known, we identify potentially responsive sources and preserve relevant information. We work with the client on those steps and review materials for attorney-client privilege, work-product protection, responsiveness, and other issues before production. 

This gives the client a controlled review process and allows us to address sensitive material before turning information over to investigators. 

We Prepare You for FTC Testimony

Preparation for FTC testimony focuses on the relevant facts and documents, the subjects likely to arise, and the client's obligations during testimony. We work with clients before they testify so they understand the process and the issues likely to matter. 

For individuals asked to provide documents or testimony, we assess their position separately from any company involved and advise them on their own obligations and interests. Before testimony, we work through the factual record with the client and identify areas that may require particular attention. 

Our approach treats testimony as part of the overall defense strategy, keeping the client's position in the investigation in view before, during, and after the examination. 

We Represent You Throughout the FTC Investigation

Representation can continue as an FTC investigation develops, including communications with agency staff, additional requests, new developments, and decisions about the client's response. 

If disagreements arise over compliance or the investigation moves toward potential enforcement, we assess the available options and adjust the strategy accordingly. Our representation remains focused on protecting the client's legal and business interests while responding effectively to the agency. 

From the initial FTC communication through later investigative developments, we provide continuity so that each response is informed by what has already occurred and what may come next. 

FTC Investigations Attorneys Serving New York and Nationwide

At Newman Litigation, our attorneys have represented numerous clients receiving subpoenas and civil investigative demands in private litigation and government investigations involving federal agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission. 

From our Brooklyn office, we represent clients in multiple jurisdictions throughout the United States. Clients work directly with counsel to assess investigative requests, prepare responses, address disputed demands, and make informed decisions as investigations progress. 

If you have received a CID, subpoena, voluntary information request, or other communication from the FTC, contact our FTC investigations attorneys to discuss your response.