Linda A. Goldstein

Linda Goldstein is a nationally recognized leader in advertising, marketing, digital media, and gaming law. She regularly counsels and advises Fortune 100 and 500 companies and other market leaders across a broad spectrum of industries, including telecommunications, entertainment, cryptocurrency, food, beverage, and other consumer packaged goods, retail, beauty and wellness, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and gaming.  

Linda advises on complex matters involving digital and mobile marketing, social media, campaigns, influencer marketing, consumer reviews, e-commerce subscription and membership programs, ad-tech, privacy, and the evolving use of AI in the advertising and media industries. She is particularly valued for helping clients anticipate regulatory developments and providing practical and creative solutions that align her clients’ innovative business models with evolving compliance requirements. 

Linda is a strategic legal advisor and business partner who provides practical, business-focused advice to clients on the full breadth of issues affecting advertising and marketing activities from transactional, commercial and talent arrangements (including SAG-AFTRA) to regulatory compliance, claims review and substantiation,  and risk management across the entire advertising campaign lifecycle.  

A significant portion of Linda’s practice involves representing clients in investigative and enforcement proceedings brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), state Attorneys General and other federal and state agencies. She has successfully handled some of the highest-profile, bet-the-company and precedent-setting cases. Linda appears regularly before the National Advertising Division (“NAD”) representing clients in comparative advertising challenges, and has successfully represented clients in numerous high-stakes false advertising Lanham Act cases and consumer class actions. 

Linda is also recognized as a leading authority on sweepstakes, contests, and games, bringing decades of experience helping clients navigate the complex maze of state and federal gambling and lottery laws. She has played a key role in the gaming industry’s evolution from the early days of fantasy sports to today’s sports betting and sweepstakes casinos. She serves as an advisor to game operators, sport leagues, and media companies navigating this complex regulatory landscape.

Linda has been widely recognized for excellence in her field, including being ranked a Band 1 Lawyer and Star Individual by Chambers, named a Hall of Fame attorney by Legal 500, recognized as a Super Lawyer, and listed among the top 50 Women Lawyers.  

 Due to her breadth of knowledge and grasp of the legal climate, Linda is regularly sought out by national, business, and trade publications. Her insights have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and NBC’s TODAY Show, and she is a frequent speaker at prominent industry conferences.  

Experience 

General Advertising/Marketing

• Advised and drafted comprehensive compliance guidelines for one of the leading data companies, setting standards for sharing data with major advertising agencies and brands for targeted marketing purposes.
• Advised a national online retailer in connection with the development of its entire pricing structure and pricing programs. 
• Advised major telecommunications companies on structuring of consumer buy-flows, cancellation procedures and customer service policies and procedures for compliance with applicable laws.
• Developed comprehensive advertising guidelines for a major television broadcasting service and social media platforms.
• Negotiated one of the largest global Master Services Agreements between a leading telecommunications company and the largest global advertising agency.
• Developed guidelines and standard provisions on behalf of a leading wireless service company for the use of Artificial Intelligence in the development of creative content and media planning.
• Participated in the Interactive Advertising Bureau task force on revisions to standard insertion orders for digital media advertising.
• Advised one of the largest cryptocurrency companies in the US on the launch of loyalty- based programs and sweepstakes promotions.
• Established comprehensive editorial guidelines for affiliate marketing and product reviews for a leading publishing company.

FTC and Regulatory

• Represented a leading social gaming network in a landmark case brought by the FTC involving influencer marketing.
• Represented the largest dating app company in an FTC investigation involving the company’s subscription program and compliance with ROSCA (Restore On-Line Shopper’s Confidence Act).
• Represented industry leaders in the beauty, credit reporting, and publishing industries in FTC and State Attorneys General investigations relating to the companies’ subscription programs and compliance with ROSCA.
• Represented a major telecommunications company in a multistate action brought by over 30 Attorneys General, which resulted in the establishment of industry-wide standards for marketing of wireless services. 
• Represented leading publishing companies and e-commerce retailers in multistate investigations brought by State Attorneys General regarding their subscription programs.
• Represented two major retailers in investigations by the FTC for alleged violations of the Mail Order Rule.
• Represented one of the largest e–commerce and online sweepstakes companies in the FTC’s first action focused on dark patterns—i.e. computer interfaces that allegedly mislead consumers.
• As former chair of the board of directors of the Electronic Retailing Association, played a key role in the development of the organization’s electronic retailing self-regulation program with the BBB.
• Represented the largest ticket sales company in the FTC investigation into its ticket sales practices. 

Sweepstakes/Gaming/Gambling

• Represented three major television production companies in an industry–wide class action challenging text message sweepstakes as violative of federal and state lottery laws. 
• Advised a leading video game publisher in connection with the establishment of an e-sports tournament and related community-sponsored tournaments.
• Represented a major national sports league in connection with its sponsorship of Fan Duel and Draft Kings daily fantasy games.
• Represented a leading social gaming platform in an FTC investigation.
• Participated in the drafting of the Uniform Internet Gambling Act provision providing an exception for fantasy games on behalf of the Fantasy League industry. 
• Advised three of the leading fantasy league game operators on structuring and the operation of the games, including drafting of official rules and terms of use.
• Advised a large ticketing company on the establishment of Pick em style online games.
• Advised a leading social casino on compliance with laws in the State of Washington and other states.
• Advised one of the largest skill-based pay-to-play game operators on the structuring of games to comply with applicable gambling and lottery laws.
• Prepared a comprehensive white paper for a major sports league on the legality of fantasy sports games under federal and all state gambling and lottery laws.