Elliot Kaye

Practice Areas

Elliot is the former chairman of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), serving as the nation’s chief product safety official and as the agency’s leader in executing its mandate to protect the public from dangerous products. During his tenure, Elliot modernized the agency, particularly the CPSC’s design, staffing and usage of its compliance, investigatory and enforcement powers. He established a new standard with a rigorous and consistent decision‐making playbook and created a culture of civility, despite the commission’s partisan composition. At Cooley, Elliot utilizes his experience at the CPSC to advise and counsel clients on the full life cycle of product-related needs – particularly in the fast-moving applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and tech in everyday consumer goods.

When his Senate-confirmed term at the CPSC was expiring, Elliot joined the executive team at World Central Kitchen (WCK) as senior vice president for policy and held that role through a kidney transplant, followed by time on the ground months later in Ukraine providing emergency meals after the invasion. He left WCK to recover fully from the transplant. Before joining the CPSC in 2010, Elliot was a practicing lawyer focusing on white collar defense and investigations. He moved up the leadership ranks at the CPSC until 2014, when President Barack Obama nominated him as chair and as one of the five commissioners. He was confirmed unanimously by the US Senate and held the chair position until 2017. He remained as a commissioner until departing in 2021.

Elliot is known by peers, colleagues and in the industry as an advocate for consumer-focused decision-making with an emphasis on collaboration through civilized discourse. He is regarded for his ability and willingness to work with all stakeholders to achieve sensible and meaningful outcomes. His commonsense approach and insights have earned him respect and gravitas, which carry through his work with Cooley’s clients.