CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord Names New General Counsel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Acting Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced the hiring of Cheryl Falvey as the agency’s new career General Counsel effective March 3, 2008.

"Ms. Falvey is highly experienced in product safety issues," said Nord. “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 (SES). 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,” said Nord.

Prior to her appointment as CPSC’s new General Counsel, 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,” said Falvey. “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. She received her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1987 and served as editor of the American Criminal Law Review while at Georgetown. She is a member of the Virginia, New York, and District of Columbia Bars.