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ARTICLE · 13 NOVEMBER 2025

Key Takeaways From Katten's ANA Panel On Advertising Risk

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At the 2025 ANA Masters of Advertising Law Conference, Katten partners Chris Cole and Kristin Achterhof, joined by Michael Friedman of Whirlpool, led a discussion on the evolving risks facing advertisers and brands.

United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Catherine E. O'Brien
Catherine E. O'Brien
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At the 2025 ANA Masters of Advertising Law Conference, Katten partners Chris Cole and Kristin Achterhof, joined by Michael Friedman of Whirlpool, led a discussion on the evolving risks facing advertisers and brands. Their session, "Is There Any Safe Campaign?", explored how enforcement priorities, litigation trends, and reputational pressures are reshaping the false advertising landscape.

The panel noted that the FTC's focus has narrowed under its current Republican leadership, emphasizing "kitchen table" issues and clear-cut fraud rather than close cases. Competitors and consumers have stepped into the gap, driving enforcement through Lanham Act challenges and a growing wave of class actions, particularly those involving alleged greenwashing and sustainability claims such as "eco-friendly," "natural," and "sustainable".

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