Ex-trade commissioner joins new law firm

Former Federal Trade Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour has moved to the BakerHostetler law firm to help lead its privacy and data protection team.

Harbour, an independent, served as an FTC commissioner from 2003 through 2009, and focused on consumer protection and antitrust issues.

{mosads}At BakerHostetler, Harbour is working as a partner in the antitrust and competition practice, helping clients with notifications and assessments after data breaches and advising on data transfers. She has also advised foreign governments on issues in online markets.

“This is an exciting time to join the firm’s antitrust and privacy teams, both of which have deep benches, unparalleled experience and excellent practitioners,” Harbour said in a statement.

“Our clients are growing increasingly attentive toward legal issues at the intersection of privacy, data security and competition,” added Jeffrey Paravano, managing partner of BakerHostetler’s D.C. office. “Pamela’s leadership in these fast-changing areas and her insight into the workings of the FTC will help provide strategic direction for our clients.”

She will work in both the firm’s New York and Washington offices.

In 2010, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a public interest nonprofit, gave Harbour its annual Champion of Freedom Award for her won on consumer privacy while at the FTC.

Since leaving the FTC, Harbour has worked as a partner at the law firm of Norton Rose Fulbright, focusing on antitrust and competitive practice.

She previously spent a decade in the office of the New York Attorney General, including a stint as its top litigator.