CPSC Names New General Counsel
Nancy Nord, acting chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, yesterday announced the hiring of Cheryl Falvey as the agency's new career General Counsel effective immediately.
"Ms. Falvey is highly experienced in product safety issues," Nord said. "Her expertise will greatly benefit CPSC as it continues its work to reduce deaths and injuries associated with consumer products."
Falvey will assume her new position as a career member of the Federal Senior Executive Service. The position of CPSC General Counsel had previously been a "political" (Schedule C) position, but was upgraded and changed at the initiative of the commission.
"Making the General Counsel a career SES position will enhance the credibility and long term stability and professionalism of this very important position at the CPSC," Nord said.
Prior to this appointment, Falvey was a partner at the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, in the Washington, DC office. She headed the firm's litigation practice group in Washington, and advised clients on consumer product safety issues and product recalls, with a special focus on toys, children's products, and household electronics and appliances. Falvey joined Akin Gump in 1990 after several years of practice with a New York law firm.
"I am extremely pleased to join the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission," Falvey said. "I look forward to working with the CPSC's talented staff to assist them with their mission to protect children and families against consumer product hazards."
Falvey received her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1984 and her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1987. She served as editor of the American Criminal Law Review while at Georgetown and is a member of the Virginia, New York, and District of Columbia Bars.