“Ifrah Lures Privacy Expert from Thompson Hine”

Law360, New York (May 22, 2012, 12:23 PM ET) — Ifrah Law PLLC has picked up a former Thompson Hine LLP partner with expertise on privacy, e-commerce and media matters, the Washington-based firm announced Monday.As a member at Ifrah and chair of the firm’s e-commerce group, Michelle Cohen will focus on privacy, consumer protection, e-commerce, communications and media-related issues. She will also advise clients on data privacy, security, direct marketing and emerging technologies.

“As e-business continues to grow, clients experience unique e-related regulatory and litigation issues,” founding partner Jeff Ifrah said. “Adding such a respected and seasoned lawyer with deep experience in e-commerce will enable us to respond to such issues more effectively and efficiently.”

Cohen said she was drawn to the firm because of its entrepreneurial spirit and its focus on clients. The attorney has watched Ifrah, a former colleague at Paul Hastings LLP, steadily grow the boutique firm since setting up shop in 2009.

“It was the lure of what Jeff was building combined with the fact that he really focuses on big firm training in a boutique environment,” Cohen said. “Everyone here has big firm training and many have governmental experience.”

Cohen’s two decades of experience includes representing traditional and online companies before the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general and other federal and state agencies.

She has also successfully defended clients in administrative and civil litigation involving telecommunications and privacy issues, including dozens of Telephone Consumer Protection Act cases.

The attorney has managed data breaches, drafted terms of use and privacy policies for websites, and counseled clients on legal requirements for online and traditional sweepstakes and contests.

Cohen has represented companies in FCC licensing, focusing on mergers, acquisitions, ownership transfers and new licenses, and has tackled FCC and FTC rulemaking matters.

The new Ifrah member has been certified as an information privacy professional for the U.S. through the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

She is also a member and past board member of the Washington-Balimore chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications, and a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association.

Cohen began her legal career in the litigation department at Paul Hastings, where she spent seven years before moving to the firm’s corporate practice.

Ifrah specializes in Internet advertising, Internet gaming, government contracts and health care.

The firm has represented defendants in a putative Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act class action alleging that Full Tilt Poker and others conspired to defraud company account holders of $150 million by freezing their accounts.

–Additional reporting by Evan Weinberger. Editing by Eydie Cubarrubia.