Former Assistant to Miles Kirkpatrick Named Recipient of 2004 Kirkpatrick Award

Former Assistant to Miles Kirkpatrick Named Recipient of 2004 Kirkpatrick Award

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras today named Caswell O. Hobbs, III, the 2004 recipient of the Miles W. Kirkpatrick Award for his outstanding contributions to the Commission in the public and private sectors. Citing his exemplary commitment to the Commission’s mission, Hobbs “throughout his professional career has worked tirelessly to make the FTC worthy of the trust and respect of the American consumer whom it serves,” stated FTC Chairman Majoras. “All of us who are associated with this fine institution, but more importantly, American consumers, owe a debt of gratitude to Cas for his long years of service and dedication to the FTC.”

Hobbs served in various positions within the FTC from 1967 to 1973, including Attorney Advisor and Assistant to former FTC Chairman Miles W. Kirkpatrick and Director of the Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation. Until September 2004, Hobbs was a partner at the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, focusing on antitrust and trade regulation matters. While at the law firm, he chaired the Washington Office Management Committee, served three terms on the firm’s Executive Committee, and served as Chairman of the firm’s Planning Committee and the Practice Development Committee. From his position in private practice, he continued to be a public supporter of the FTC. Hobbs has been active in the American Bar Association (ABA), and has served as Chairman of the Section of Antitrust Law. As Section Chairman, Hobbs organized support for the FTC’s reauthorization and for additional resources for law enforcement. He also arranged for the ABA to co-sponsor the FTC’s 75th Anniversary seminar and celebration. As a member of the ABA, Hobbs has chaired several ABA Antitrust Section committees, including the Federal Trade Commission Committee, and served on the Special Committee to Study the Role of the Federal Trade Commission.

The Kirkpatrick Award was established in 2001 to honor the commitment, talent, and contributions of individuals who, throughout their public and private careers, have made lasting and significant contributions to the FTC. The award’s namesake, Miles Kirkpatrick, is a legendary figure among the antitrust community because of his dynamic leadership of the American Bar Association’s 1969 Commission to study the FTC. President Richard Nixon commissioned the study following a report by “Nader’s Raiders,” which concluded that the FTC was so riddled with antiquated procedures and weakness in leadership, management, and performance that it failed to perform its statutory role in policing the rapidly growing consumer problems in America. The Kirkpatrick Report resulted in a mandate for substantial reform and reorganization of the agency, including the recruitment of highly qualified and motivated new talent.

Previous recipients of the Kirkpatrick Award are Basil J. Mezines, Robert Pitofsky, and Jodie Bernstein.