Maureen Ohlhausen
Maureen Kraemer Ohlhausen (born April 5, 1962) is an American lawyer who served as acting chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from 2017 to 2018 and as an FTC commissioner from 2012 to 2018. In 2018, President Donald Trump nominated her to the United States Court of Federal Claims, but she withdrew the nomination in December 2018 and joined Baker Botts as partner and co-chair of the firm’s antitrust practice. She later joined Wilson Sonsini as a partner in 2024.
Education and early career
Ohlhausen earned a BA with honors from the University of Virginia in 1984 and a JD with distinction from George Mason University in 1991. She clerked for Judge Robert J. Yock of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (1991–1992) and later clerked for Judge David B. Sentelle on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, also working as a staff attorney there. She began at the FTC’s General Counsel’s Office in 1997 and later taught privacy law and unfair trade practices as an adjunct at George Mason University School of Law. She also served as a senior editor of the Antitrust Law Journal and was involved with the American Bar Association’s work on competition and public policy.
FTC career
Ohlhausen spent 11 years at the FTC, including as Director of the Office of Policy Planning from 2004 to 2008, where she led the FTC’s Internet Access Task Force, and as Deputy Director of that office. Earlier, she advised former FTC Commissioner Orson Swindle (1998–2001).
Nominations and later work
In 2018, Trump announced his intent to nominate her to the Court of Federal Claims. The nomination was sent to the Senate, but she withdrew the nomination in December 2018 because she was unlikely to be confirmed before her FTC term ended. She then joined Baker Botts as partner and co-chair of the antitrust practice. In 2024, she joined Wilson Sonsini as a partner.
Personal life
Ohlhausen is a long-time member of the Federalist Society (since 1992). She lives in Virginia with her husband, Peter, and their four children.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:33 (CET).