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, and antitrust, as well as intellectual property (IP) and general business litigation. She has worked on consumer class actions and consumer protection matters brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general, at both the investigation and litigation stages.

Dr. Altuglu addresses class certification and liability issues using economic, marketing, and consumer behavior data. Her expertise extends to cases involving data breaches, alleged violations of data privacy, and the alleged impacts of “dark patterns” and choice architecture on consumer decision making and behavior online, and other digital user interfaces. Her industry experience includes consumer financial products and technology products, as well as automobiles, consumer packaged goods, and pharmaceuticals.

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

Consumer class actions and consumer protection matters

Dr. Altuglu consults on consumer class actions involving false advertising, product misrepresentation, product defect, product labeling, and deceptive or non-transparent pricing practices claims such as allegations of reference or strike-through pricing, junk fees, and drip pricing. 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 used survey methods to evaluate consumer perceptions, understanding, and reactions to company disclosures and pricing practices in consumer protection matters. Her experience also includes applying large language models (LLMs) to company- and user-generated content such as advertising campaigns, customer reviews, and consumer blogs.

Dr. Altuglu consults on consumer protection matters at both the investigation stage and the litigation stage. She has worked on matters brought on by the FTC and state attorneys general, among others.

Dr. Altuglu is vice chair of the Consumer Protection Committee for the Section of Antitrust Law of the American Bar Association (ABA). She formerly served as vice chair of the Privacy and Information Security Committee and, previously, of the Advertising Disputes and Litigation Committee.

Negative option marketing and dark patterns

Dr. Altuglu has worked on many high-profile consumer protection and litigation matters related to negative option marketing practices and subscription autorenewals. This work includes matters claiming violations of the FTC’s Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) and various state consumer protection and automatic renewal laws.

In matters involving auto-renewing membership programs, Dr. Altuglu has designed surveys and analyzed clickstream, customer service, and other data to assess claims that consumers did not see or understand the enrollment or cancellation terms, were enrolled without express informed consent, and were not able to cancel their enrollments.

Dr. Altuglu has also designed analyses to address and rebut “dark patterns” claims that user interface features allegedly confused or tricked consumers into enrolling in an auto-renewing membership program or impeded their ability to cancel.

Data privacy and data breach

Dr. Altuglu has extensive experience in consumer class actions and consumer protection matters related to data breaches and alleged violations of data privacy. In these contexts, 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 has deep experience in 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 consumer class actions, multiple inquiries before the FTC, and proceedings before European National Data Authorities (DPAs), including the Irish Data Protection Commission. Dr. Altuglu’s work in the EU covers matters related to alleged infringements by global tech companies of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA).

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 IP rights matters, including those involving trademark, trade dress, and copyright infringement claims. Her work includes damages analysis, as well as analysis related to likelihood of confusion, trademark dilution and blurring, and irreparable harm.