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Sarah Wilson is a litigation and investigations partner who chairs the firm’s market-leading Product Safety Practice Group. Her clients include the world’s largest global consumer and commercial products manufacturers across a range of industries, including consumer packaged goods, automotive vehicles and equipment, aviation, electronics, life sciences, and information technology. Ms. Wilson has successfully represented clients in the largest recalls and safety-related investigations in recent history, including airbags, fire extinguishers, single load liquid laundry packets, toxic chemicals in household products, lithium-ion battery-powered laptops, car seats, and electric bikes and scooters. Ms. Wilson assists clients in developing cutting edge recall policies, compliance program enhancements, and voluntary safety standards.
Prior to joining Covington, Ms. Wilson served in several high-ranking federal government positions, including as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, as Senior and Associate Counsel to the President, and as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice.
- Successfully represented major consumer products manufacturers in numerous CPSC post-recall investigations that were closed with no enforcement action.
- Represented automotive and consumer products manufacturers in two of the largest NHTSA and CPSC recalls in U.S. history.
- Representation of mail services provider in a DOJ False Claims Act and Postal Inspection Service investigation involving postal rate discounts.
- Representation of medical device supplier in False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute investigation; matter was closed without action.
- Representation of global automotive company in series of internal investigations involving quality assurance and work culture issues.
- Representation of global investment company in NHTSA tire recall and related post-recall arbitration proceeding.
- Representation of global industrial technology company in NHTSA vehicle kit recall.
- Representation of global automotive parts company in DOJ cartel investigation.
- Representation of global electronic consumer products company in recall and post-recall investigations involving lithium-ion batteries.
- Representation of major telecommunications companies in $1.2 billion False Claims Act case involving FCC spectrum licenses.
- Representation of defense contractor in criminal fraud and civil False Claims Act matter involving military armor.
- Representation of defense contractor in criminal and civil False Claims Act suit involving wartime operations.
- Representation of pharmaceutical and medical device company in civil False Claims Act matter involving discounting practices.
- Representation of major pharmaceutical companies in civil False Claims Act matters involving product contamination and recall issues.
- Representation of Chinese and US pharmaceutical companies in FCPA investigations.
- Representation of pharmaceutical, medical device, defense contractor, and telecommunications companies in False Claims Act and criminal fraud investigations and litigation.
- Representation of global consumer products and consumer health care companies in CPSC investigations and enforcement actions.
- Representation of venture capital software company and apparel company in AAA and CPR arbitrations involving commercial disputes.
- Representation of corporate policyholder in a first-party property insurance coverage dispute involving extensive damage to Florida hotels caused by Hurricane Frances.
- Representation of a major natural foods distributor and retailer in a consumer class action involving the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.
- Representation of major railroad companies in state and federal tax litigation, breach of contract and takings litigation.
Pro Bono
- Represented the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce in a successful lawsuit challenging the Small Business Administration’s delay in implementing the Women’s Procurement Program.
- Represented a criminal defense attorney organization in a successful legal reform effort involving Virginia’s indigent defense compensation system.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Women in Law Empowerment Forum, Board Member
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section
- D.C. Women’s Bar Association
- Legal Aid Society of D.C., Board Member
Previous Experience
- United States Court of Federal Claims, Judge
- White House Counsel’s Office, Senior and Associate Counsel
- Department of Justice, Office of Policy Development, Deputy Assistant Attorney General
- Department of Justice, Federal Programs Branch Civil Division, Trial Attorney
June 26, 2020, Covington Alert
On June 15, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced the launch of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (“NHTSA”) Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing (“AV TEST”) Initiative, a voluntary data-sharing initiative intended to improve safety, testing, and transparency of automated vehicle (“AV”) ...
June 1, 2020, Covington Alert
On May 19, 2020, President Trump issued an executive order to promote "Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery." Noting the harmful effect COVID-19 has had on the American economy, the order directs federal agencies, including independent agencies such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, to take steps to ease burdens on regulated entities in ...
April 30, 2020, Covington Alert
Poison prevention has been one of several top priorities of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump’s recent speculation about the ingestion of disinfectants as a potential COVID-19 treatment prompted the agency to tweet an urgent safety warning the following day, and product manufacturers have issued ...
April 22, 2020
WASHINGTON—Covington represented satellite provider Ligado Networks in its successful application for rights to deploy 5G services over its mid-band spectrum. On April 22, the full Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a unanimous decision approving Ligado’s application, finding that it will advance economic and security interests nationwide. The ...
2019, American Bar Association
Our cross-disciplinary Internet of Things initiative contributed to the ABA's first book on IoT, The Internet of Things: Legal Issues, Policy, & Practical Strategies. Laura Kim and Jennifer Johnson authored the chapter “U.S. Regulatory Framework for IoT,” with contributions from Sarah Wilson (product safety); Wade Ackerman, Elizabeth Guo, Christopher Hanson, ...
March 26, 2019, Legaltech News
Sarah Wilson spoke with Legaltech News about the legal liability of autonomous cars. Ms. Wilson says, “It’ll be a more complicated liability analysis when a car is fully autonomous and there is an accident, because you’ll have to figure out who is all at fault, or which system is at fault [or] if it’s [the] hardware or software.”
Connected and Automated Vehicles Webinar Series: What's Going on with U.S. Law and Regulations?
February 27, 2019
The webinar covered such topics as federal regulations affecting connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), with a focus on NHTSA, the FAA, the FCC, and CFIUS review; where Congress stands on CAV legislation, including the AV START Act, the SELF-DRIVE Act, and infrastructure legislation; state-level legislative, regulatory, and policy developments, with a closer ...
3 Tips For Working With CPSC During The Shutdown
January 18, 2019, Law360
Sarah Wilson is quoted in Law360 regarding the safety risks for companies during the government shutdown. Ms. Wilson said companies should still be vigilant about checking consumer and retailer complaints to evaluate whether they raise safety issues. She adds they should also be taking a look at their programs for reviewing complaints and not see the shutdown as ...
January 9, 2019, Covington Alert
The ongoing partial government shutdown has halted most operations of the agencies regulating product safety, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), and the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”). With these agencies left without funding, businesses and consumers face significant ...
January 8, 2019, Covington Alert
Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), waste deemed “hazardous waste” is subject to onerous regulatory requirements, including: a 90-day storage limitation, shipment to a RCRA-permitted facility for disposal, and tracking from generation to disposal via a manifest system.
January 4, 2019, Covington Alert
The ongoing partial government shutdown has halted most operations of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), the two federal safety regulators of consumer products and motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, respectively. With both major U.S. product safety regulators left without ...
November 10, 2016, Covington Alert
With the election over, the process of selecting and vetting individuals to fill the next administration’s key appointed positions is quickly shifting into high gear. For those who are called to serve in such positions, the decision to enter the process may be one of the most important and life-changing decisions they will make. Accordingly, it is critical for ...
June 9, 2016, Covington Alert
The Supreme Court last week unanimously ruled that property owners seeking to discharge material onto land potentially subject to federal Clean Water Act restrictions may bring direct court challenges to "approved jurisdictional determinations" issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps"). The Court rejected the Corps' position that property owners must ...
April 5, 2016, Practicing Law Institute
June 17, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Federal Contracts Report
September 2014, Financial Fraud Law Report
June 25, 2014, Covington E-Alert
The “Lincoln Law” Meets The Bank Bailout - The False Claims Act and Financial Recovery Measures
03/04/2009, Covington E-Alert
November 6, 2013, Covington E-Alert
Forum On Improving the Success of Women in Law Firms
10/1/2013
WASHINGTON, DC, October 1, 2013 — Covington & Burling and the Women in Law Empowerment Forum are hosting a forum on what the legal industry’s leaders can do to improve the path to success for female lawyers. The event, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3 at Covington’s Washington, D.C. office, will feature a panel discussion on ways to develop mentoring ...
June 22, 2011, Covington E-Alert
May 2, 2011, Covington E-Alert
March 1, 2011, BNA's Federal Contracts Report
December 14, 2010, Covington E-Alert
October 11, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, October 11, 2010 — The Small Business Administration (SBA) published in the Federal Register on October 7 the final rule for the Women’s Federal Procurement Program, a set-aside program for women-owned small businesses. The milestone capped a ten year effort that spanned three presidential administrations and three branches of government. ...
February 1, 2010, Covington E-Alert
Covington Promotes 10 Lawyers to Partnership
10/1/2009
WASHINGTON, DC, October 1, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP today announced that ten of its lawyers have been elected to the firm’s partnership effective today. The new partners practice in the corporate, litigation, and regulatory fields. The ten new partners and their practices are as follows: Marney Cheek (International) represents companies and trade ...
December 8, 2008, Covington E-Alert
March 29, 2007, Covington E-Alert
Covington’s Pro Bono Legal Effort Leads to Historic Reform of Virginia’s Indigent Defense System
March 8, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, March 8, 2007 — Covington & Burling’s effort to improve the quality of indigent defense in Virginia yielded results last week when the General Assembly approved landmark legislation permitting judges to waive the unreasonably low, mandatory caps on legal fees paid to lawyers representing poor criminal defendants in Virginia’s circuit courts. ...
November 30, 2006, Covington E-Alert
July 11, 2006, BNA's Federal Contracts Report
Spring 2004, Journal of Appellate Practice and Process
- Legal 500 US, Marketing and Advertising (2015-2017)
- Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2016-2020)
- Washington DC Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense: White Collar (2014-2020)
The Journey to Developing Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
Bringing advanced connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) to market requires navigating a complex series of commercial, legal, and regulatory challenges.
Practices
Education
Columbia Law School
- Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
- Columbia Human Rights Law Review, Editor
Yale University, M.Phil.
Yale University, M.A.
Williams College, B.A.
- cum laude
- Phi Beta Kappa