Vildan Altuglu

Vildan Altuglu coheads the consumer fraud and product liability practice at Cornerstone Research. Dr. Altuglu applies economic analysis and marketing research techniques to matters involving product liability, product misrepresentation, false advertising, antitrust, intellectual property, and general business litigation. She addresses class certification and liability issues using economic, marketing, and consumer behavior data. She also has expertise in cases involving data breaches and alleged violations of data privacy. Dr. Altuglu’s industry experience includes automobiles, consumer financial products, consumer packaged goods, technology products, and pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Altuglu works extensively with industrial organization economists as well as marketing academics.

Consumer class actions

Dr. Altuglu consults on consumer class actions involving false advertising, product misrepresentation, product defect, product labeling, and deceptive retail pricing claims. She has analyzed economic and market data to assess heterogeneity and harm among putative class members. She has rebutted damages and has extensive experience in conjoint analysis rebuttal.

Dr. Altuglu has designed and conducted complex surveys to address exposure, reliance, materiality, and consumer heterogeneity issues at the class certification stage, as well as liability issues at the merits stage. She has also conducted content analysis of manufacturer marketing communications and social media content.

Dr. Altuglu is vice chair of the Privacy and Information Security Committee for the Section of Antitrust Law of the American Bar Association. She formerly served as vice chair of the Advertising Disputes and Litigation Committee.

Dark patterns, data privacy, and data breach

Dr. Altuglu has extensive experience in consumer class actions related to data breaches and alleged violations of data privacy. In this context, she has analyzed class certification and damages issues involving app developers, major U.S. credit reporting bureaus, publishing companies, restaurant chains, smart device manufacturers, and social media sites, among others.

 Dr. Altuglu also works on regulatory matters involving alleged “dark patterns” and data privacy issues in the United States and the European Union (EU). She has supported economists and consumer behavior experts in multiple inquiries before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as well as the European National Data Authorities (DPAs), including the Irish Data Protection Commission. Dr. Altuglu’s work in the EU covers matters related to alleged infringements of the GDPR by global tech companies.

Antitrust and competition

Across multiple high-profile antitrust matters, Dr. Altuglu has analyzed branding, marketing, and consumer behavior issues. She has designed and rebutted consumer surveys aimed at defining the relevant market. Her antitrust industry experience includes two-sided markets such as credit cards, social media platforms, online retail marketplaces, and app stores, among others.

Intellectual property

Dr. Altuglu addresses a range of economic and consumer behavior issues in intellectual property rights matters, including those involving trademark, trade dress, and copyright infringement claims. Her experience includes damages analysis, as well as analysis related to likelihood of confusion, trademark dilution and blurring, and irreparable harm.