John is a partner in the Entertainment and Media Industry Group. His practice focuses on advertising and unfair competition issues, including counseling and litigation of false advertising cases; counseling with regard to regulatory issues surrounding promotions such as sweepstakes, contests, and other sales incentives; and related intellectual property matters. He has extensive experience before the National Advertising Division of the BBB National Programs, Inc. (NAD) and has advised clients on regulatory investigations before the FTC and state attorneys general.
John has handled dozens of advertising cases involving products and services as diverse as dietary supplements, batteries, dog biscuits, gasoline additives, and retail store services. He has particularly focused on the role of self-regulation and regularly represents clients before the NAD and the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU). John has done extensive work in the area of children’s advertising, advising clients on regulatory initiatives, food and obesity issues, video games, violence in media, and privacy.
John devotes a substantial portion of his practice to providing advice to advertisers on regulatory issues, including environmental claims, behavioral marketing, privacy, sweepstakes, rebates, coupons, and advertising substantiation. Taking advantage of Reed Smith’s international platform, John’s practice encompasses an extensive knowledge of international laws as they relate to advertising and promotion, and he provides turnkey legal clearance on difficult and complex international survey projects.
John has also written and spoken nationally on topics related to promotion marketing, especially sweepstakes and contests. He was named The Best Lawyers™ 2020 Advertising Law Lawyer of the Year in Washington, D.C.
Recognitions
- Selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Advertising Law, 2008-2025; also received The Best Lawyers™ Lawyer of the Year award in Washington, D.C. for Advertising Law, 2020 and 2024
- Ranked in Chambers USA for Nationwide Advertising: Transactional & Regulatory, 2015-2025
Credentials
Education
- Cornell Law School, 1990, J.D., Editor-in-Chief, Cornell International Law Journal (1989-1990)
- Princeton University, 1986, A.B., magna cum laude
Professional admissions & qualifications
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
Professional affiliations
- American Bar Association, Antitrust Section, Consumer Protection Committee – Vice Chair, 2009-present
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- Promotion Marketing Association, Governmental & Legal Affairs Committee – Director, 2001-2007
Media mentions
FTC Issues Warning to 60 National Advertisers
FTC’s Operation Full Disclosure reestablishes the rules of the road
FTC Shifts Heat To Mobile Apps With Kids’ Privacy Actions
Yelp, TinyCo fined by U.S. for improperly collecting kids’ data
How the FDA’s Label Proposal Might Change Food Marketing
FTC Embraces Flexibility With New COPPA Compliance Tools
Companies Eager For Guidance On Children’s Privacy Rules
Modified Online Children’s Privacy Rules Take Effect in US
Revised Kids’ Privacy Rule Leaves Wiggle Room On Day 1
FTC Hints At Teen Privacy Enforcement In New COPPA Guides
Broader Children’s Privacy Rules to Hit Apps Hard
Debate Over Mobile Data Privacy Heats Up
COPPA Team’s Move Likely To Jumpstart FTC Enforcement
FTC Mobile Guide Signals Start Of Privacy Crackdown
FTC Updates COPPA for the Age of Social Media, Mobile Apps
FTC Bans Behavioral Targeting At Kids’ Sites
U.S. tightens rules protecting children's online privacy
ITIF Analyst: FTC COPPA Revisions Harm More Than Help
FTC Guidance Reminds App Makers They Face Privacy Scrutiny
McDonald’s, Viacom Websites Violate Child Privacy, Groups Say
Consumer Protection: FTC Seeks Comments on More Proposed Revisions to Children’s Online Privacy Rule
FTC’s Child Privacy Tweaks Bring Ad Networks Under Scrutiny
Dot Com Ad Guidance Must Be Flexible To Endure: Attys
COPPA Rule Changes Will Expand Privacy's Reach, Costs
Website Allows Participants to Win Prizes by Critiquing Advertisements
Air personalities face added burdens of vetting ad claims under new federal rules
FTC takes aim at celebs, Web hype-sters
Swag The Dog: FTC Rules Bloggers Should Disclose Freebies
Is It Working? An Update On The Food Industry’s Response To The Issue Of Childhood Obesity
Sellers Seeking to Raffle Home Online Face Fifty-State Patchwork of Rules, Restrictions
FTC Considers Updating Its Guides to Endorsements and Testimonials
Analysts Take a Closer Look at the FTC Report
FTC Backs Self-Regulation
Ads Blowing Smoke
Food Fight
Privacy Issues Loom for Marketers
- FTC Issues Warning to 60 National Advertisers (2014)
- FTC’s Operation Full Disclosure reestablishes the rules of the road (2014)
- FTC Shifts Heat To Mobile Apps With Kids’ Privacy Actions (2014)
- Yelp, TinyCo fined by U.S. for improperly collecting kids’ data (2014)
- How the FDA’s Label Proposal Might Change Food Marketing (2014)
- FTC Embraces Flexibility With New COPPA Compliance Tools (2014)
- Companies Eager For Guidance On Children’s Privacy Rules (2014)
- Modified Online Children’s Privacy Rules Take Effect in US (2013)
- Revised Kids’ Privacy Rule Leaves Wiggle Room On Day 1 (2013)
- FTC Hints At Teen Privacy Enforcement In New COPPA Guides (2013)
- Broader Children’s Privacy Rules to Hit Apps Hard (2013)
- Debate Over Mobile Data Privacy Heats Up (2013)
- COPPA Team’s Move Likely To Jumpstart FTC Enforcement (2013)
- FTC Mobile Guide Signals Start Of Privacy Crackdown (2013)
- FTC Updates COPPA for the Age of Social Media, Mobile Apps (2012)
- FTC Bans Behavioral Targeting At Kids’ Sites (2012)
- U.S. tightens rules protecting children's online privacy (2012)
- ITIF Analyst: FTC COPPA Revisions Harm More Than Help (2012)
- FTC Guidance Reminds App Makers They Face Privacy Scrutiny (2012)
- McDonald’s, Viacom Websites Violate Child Privacy, Groups Say (2012)
- Consumer Protection: FTC Seeks Comments on More Proposed Revisions to Children’s Online Privacy Rule (2012)
- FTC’s Child Privacy Tweaks Bring Ad Networks Under Scrutiny (2012)
- Dot Com Ad Guidance Must Be Flexible To Endure: Attys (2011)
- COPPA Rule Changes Will Expand Privacy's Reach, Costs (2011)
- Website Allows Participants to Win Prizes by Critiquing Advertisements (2011)
- Air personalities face added burdens of vetting ad claims under new federal rules (2009)
- FTC takes aim at celebs, Web hype-sters (2009)
- Swag The Dog: FTC Rules Bloggers Should Disclose Freebies (2009)
- Is It Working? An Update On The Food Industry’s Response To The Issue Of Childhood Obesity (2009)
- Sellers Seeking to Raffle Home Online Face Fifty-State Patchwork of Rules, Restrictions (2009)
- FTC Considers Updating Its Guides to Endorsements and Testimonials (2009)
- Analysts Take a Closer Look at the FTC Report (2008)
- FTC Backs Self-Regulation (2008)
- Ads Blowing Smoke (2008)
- Food Fight (2007)
- Privacy Issues Loom for Marketers (2006)
Insights
- FTC starts 2025 with a focus on safeguarding kids (25 February 2025)
- “<em>Junk</em>” fees no more: The FTC releases final rule on unfair or deceptive fees (7 January 2025)
- Gift card draining no more: Maryland’s new law in focus (31 October 2024)
Blogs
Reliance on sweepstakes official rules to avoid litigation requires publication
Recent cases highlight limitations in price-gouging enforcement
- Got a comment on the FTC’s consumer protection priorities? Now’s your chance to weigh in (30 September 2025)
- FTC enforcement action against Temu underscores importance of INFORM Consumers Act compliance (12 September 2025)
- One Big Beautiful Bill Act could mean more valuable prizes (18 July 2025)
- Sweepstakes in the age of ubiquitous gambling (27 November 2024)
- Giveaway promotion oversight: What could possibly go wrong? (15 August 2023)
- Stop With the “Legal-verbal Circum-stratagizing” (12 July 2023)
- FTC Publishes Revised Endorsement Guides (30 June 2023)
- Tomorrow’s supply chain - Environment: Exposing the Vague Nature of "Greenwashing" Allegations in the United States (30 May 2023)
- Marketers Could Face Civil Penalties if They Don’t Substantiate: FTC Notices Issued. (18 April 2023)
- Kids’ Smart Watchmaker Updates Privacy Practices at Safe Harbor’s Direction (4 April 2022)
- Reliance on sweepstakes official rules to avoid litigation requires publication (6 October 2021)
- Personavera v. CHIME: An Innovation Contest Goes Sour (29 September 2021)
- Register today! Join us for a CLE webinar “Evolving Roles for Self-Regulation of Medical Devices and Health Services” (23 June 2021)
- Supreme Court decision weakens FTC’s enforcement authority (29 April 2021)
- FTC reaches settlement over misleading mobile advertisements for in-game rewards, and warns of growing scrutiny towards today’s gaming gatekeepers (19 January 2021)
- Recent cases highlight limitations in price-gouging enforcement (20 October 2020)
- FTC Issues Staff Perspective on Video Game Loot Boxes (17 August 2020)
- A Questionable Debut: The NAD Announces First Three Fast-Track SWIFT Cases (12 June 2020)
- The Spread of FTC Warning Letters Against Purveyors of Homeopathic Treatments and Remedies (26 May 2020)
- NAD Wrestles with Tension Between Monadic Pet Food Product Formulation Claims and Implied Health or Safety Comparisons to Other Products (13 May 2020)
Events
- Reed Smith's Advertising CLE Summit (Thursday, April 10, 2025)
- 2023 ANA Masters of Advertising Law Conference (Wednesday-Friday, November 15-17, 2023)
- 2022 International Trademark Association Annual Meeting (Monday-Tuesday, May 2-3, 2022)