CFA’s Erin Witte Receives Consumer Law’s Rising Star Award

November 15, 2025 — Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, in recognition of her contributions to the practice of consumer law, Erin Witte, Director of Consumer Protection for the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), accepted the National Consumer Law Center’s 2025 Rising Star Award. The award recognizes attorneys who have been in practice for 15 years or fewer who have made major contributions to consumer law within the past two years.

“After moving from trial work to policy advocacy, Erin has proven to be a tenacious policy advocate, protecting people from predatory lenders, unscrupulous auto dealers, and abusive debt collectors,” said Rich Dubois, executive director of the National Consumer Law Center. “She’s a skilled organizer and communicator and excels at turning complex consumer protection concepts into constructive policy ideas. Consumers are fortunate to have Erin in their corner.”

Prior to joining CFA, Witte was an assistant attorney general for the Commonwealth of Virginia, where she litigated consumer protection cases in Virginia state and federal courts. She also worked in private practice at Surovell Isaacs & Levy in Fairfax, where she represented individual consumer clients against used car dealers, abusive debt collectors, insurance companies, predatory lenders, subprime auto lenders, and medical providers. Witte is a graduate of the George Mason University School of Law and Rowan University.

Also receiving the Rising Star award was Duran Keller, founder of Keller Law in Lafayette, Indiana. 

The National Consumer Law Center presented the awards at its 33rd annual Consumer Rights Litigation Conference in Washington, D.C.. It also presented the Vern Countryman Award to Leonard A. Bennett, founding partner of the Virginia law firm Consumer Litigation Associates. The prestigious annual honor recognizes an attorney whose special contributions to the practice of consumer law have strengthened and affirmed the rights of low-income and other vulnerable consumers.

The Consumer Rights Litigation Conference is the largest and most comprehensive educational conference for consumer attorneys in the nation. 

The Rising Star Award is presented annually by the National Consumer Law Center’s Partners Council to one or more attorneys in practice for 15 years or less who have made major contributions to consumer law within the past two years by trying or settling a case of great success and significance.

The Vern Countryman Award is presented each year to a legal services or other public interest attorney whose special contributions to the practice of consumer law have strengthened and affirmed the rights of low-income Americans. Since the first award was presented in 1990, it has become the preeminent honor for consumer attorneys.