Next Generation Partners

State attorneys general in United States

Dentons

A core bench housing three former state attorneys general distinguishes Dentons as a destination of choice for regulatory counseling, state AG relations, investigations, enforcement actions, and negotiations and settlements. The team has recently showcased its multistate capabilities in the investigations concerning recalls and safety concerns in the automotive industry. Leadership of the practice is shared between former Georgia attorney general Thurbert Baker, who splits his time between Atlanta and Washington DC, and who has made significant strides in the pharmaceuticals space, and DC-based former Florida attorney general and Congressman Bill McCollum, who fields a wealth of public policy experience, and is valued by companies dealing with disruptive new technologies. Also in DC, Dan Gibb is prominent in automotive industry multistate actions, representing car makers and OEMs, while Atlanta’s Samuel Olens, who was twice elected attorney general for Georgia, is carving out a niche in the cannabis industry. In Chicago, Angelina Whitfield supports on antitrust issues across a wide range of industries, spanning cannabis, high tech, and life sciences.

Practice head(s):

Thurbert Baker; Bill McCollum


Other key lawyers:

Dan Gibb; Sam Olens; Angelina Whitfield


Testimonials

‘Dentons is unique in that everyone in the practice has spent a portion of their careers in an AG’s office and at least one member was an AG himself.’

‘The team embraces diversity and inclusivity, they immediately report or alert our company whenever a state AG has taken legal action against another company in matters that might affect our company or that serve as warnings going forward, and they are always available to meet with other divisions of our company to discuss relevant topics.’

‘Thurbert Baker, a former state AG, has tremendous knowledge and experience in real-world AG conduct and actions. His insight into best practices when dealing with AGs is invaluable.’

‘Dan Gibb worked in an AGs office and is extremely knowledgeable and up to date on current issues. He tirelessly attends national and regional AG meetings and reports back diligently with any information that might affect our company.’

‘Their guidance is critical.’

‘Niche practice area that provides unique insight from having operated within the state AG office. Offers significant connections within various state governments given this experience.’

‘Thurbert Baker is a professional who understands the ins and outs of state governments and can navigate as much with impressive precision. Thurbert matches this experience with a keen intellect, enviable wisdom, and a calm demeanor.’

DLA Piper LLP (US)

Leveraging a wide network of relationships with state attorneys general across the country, DLA Piper LLP (US) is equally at home managing ongoing relations between clients and state AG offices as defending investigations and engaging in litigation. The team has played a significant role in pressing issues of active concern to state regulators, including consumer protection, PFAS, children’s online privacy, and cryptocurrency. With offices on both coasts, the practice is co-chaired by Jeffrey Tsai in San Francisco, who specializes in investigations and enforcement actions at both the individual and multistate level, and Scott Wilson in New York, who is frequently retained by Fortune 100 companies and other major corporations in investigations and white collar criminal matters. In Washington DC, of counsel Carlton Davis sits at the intersection of state AG and government relations, fielding a wealth of experience in investigations from his tenure as assistant attorney general of Virginia. Antitrust and competition expert Vic Domen, who previously served in the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office as senior antitrust counsel, joined the firm in January 2024 from Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP.

Practice head(s):

Jeffrey Tsai; Scott Wilson


Other key lawyers:

Carlton Davis; Vic Domen


Key clients

Danone


Sanofi Group


Adir International


Work highlights


  • Represented Adir International in a consumer protection lawsuit by the California Attorney General’s Office accusing Adir of a range of state law violations related to the company’s sales practices, credit practices, and debt collection practices.
  • Represented Nurture in defending its interests in State AG investigations, product liability, and consumer class actions across the country involving alleged contamination of baby foods with heavy metals.
  • Represented the NRA Foundation in a civil action brought by the DC Attorney General alleging that the NRA Foundation acted inconsistently with its charitable purposes in entering into and approving certain financial transactions with a related entity, the NRA.

O'Melveny & Myers LLP

O'Melveny & Myers LLP‘s deep bench of seasoned litigators demonstrates exceptional fortitude in assisting clients in the life sciences, tech, energy, and consumer products sectors with high-profile state attorneys general trials and investigations. At the multistate level, the team has played a leading role in headline-hitting investigations into opioids, PFAS, plastics, social media, pelvic mesh medical devices, and gas pricing. Spread across three primary offices, the practice is led by Los Angeles-based Daniel Suvor, who advises clients on the national AG landscape and on how best to engage with state regulators, DC’s Steven Brody, a veteran state AG trial lawyer who served as lead trial counsel for J&J in the landmark opioid case brought by the State of Oklahoma, and Ross Galin in New York, who supports life sciences and pharmaceutical companies with investigations, negotiations, and settlements. In LA, Dawn Sestito is a strong choice for investigations involving climate change, plastics, antitrust, price gouging, UCL/FAL, and public nuisance, Sabrina Strong has extensive experience in complex and high profile trial litigation, and Jonathan Schneller has proved his mettle in investigations and litigation relating to opioids and medical devices. In San Francisco, Damali Taylor is sought after by tech and automotive companies, while Geoff Yost is an expert in investigations and enforcement actions relating to violations of state environmental laws. LA’s Matt Cowan, who specializes in energy and environmental matters, and Washington DC’s Mattie Hutton, who excels in the fields of life sciences and pharmaceuticals, were made partner in January 2023.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Suvor; Steve Brody; Ross Galin


Other key lawyers:

Dawn Sestito; Sabrina Strong; Jonathan Schneller; Damali Taylor; Geoff Yost; Matt Cowan; Mattie Hutton; Lauren Kaplan


Testimonials

‘Solid reputation and a very good mix of practitioners skilled in legal and policy work.’

‘Daniel Suvor is very strong in the state AG ranks. He is trusted across the aisle and among AGs.’

‘Daniel Suvor is a straight shooter who can be trusted to keep his word in all cases.’

Key clients

Kia and Hyundai


Walgreens


Planned Parenthood


Walmart


Johnson & Johnson


Google


Work highlights


  • Acted for Johnson & Johnson and subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals in massive nationwide litigation over the opioid-abuse crisis, resolving the claims of thousands of state and local governments through a combination of trial victories, appellate wins, and historic settlement negotiations.
  • Assisted Walgreens with successfully negotiating favorable opioid settlements with multiple states.
  • Represented Kia Motors America and Hyundai Motors America in connection with Attorney General investigations regarding vehicles that did not come factory-equipped with engine immobilizers.

Troutman Pepper

Troutman Pepper offers decades of experience in navigating state attorneys general relationships, representing an array of clients across key industry sectors including financial services, telecoms, tech, healthcare, and tobacco in investigations and enforcement actions. Regulatory interest in advertising and marketing practices, privacy and data security, consumer lending, product safety, and environmental protection count among the team’s range of expertise. The practice is led by Richmond-based Ashley Taylor, a regulatory and enforcement specialist with a focus on consumer protection, marketing and advertising representations, statutory disclosures, unfair or deceptive acts, and data security, alongside Orange County’s Clayton Friedman, who represents companies in highly regulated industries in matters involving advertising, marketing, consumer finance, and privacy, and Stephen Piepgrass, also in Richmond, who is particularly sought after for investigations and litigation. In Orange County, Michael Yaghi draws on extensive litigation experience in supporting on regulatory enforcement and investigations into advertising and sales practices, and consumer protection issues, while Richmond’s Ryan Strasser represents and counsels c-suite executives and inhouse counsel at Fortune 500 companies facing regulatory investigations. Former Virginia attorney general Judith Jagdmann, who joined the Richmond office in April 2023 from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, is well-versed in multistate enforcement actions.

Practice head(s):

Ashley Taylor; Clayton Friedman; Stephen Piepgrass


Other key lawyers:

Michael Yaghi; Ryan Strasser; Judith Jagdmann; Christopher Carlson


Key clients

SmileDirectClub LLC


Draft Kings


RELX (LexisNexis)


EasyPay Finance LLC


Altice USA


Liberty Tax Service


Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP  is well-equipped to support a broad range of companies in matters involving state attorneys general, investigations, and enforcement actions. Split between Chicago and Washington DC, the team routinely engages with some of the largest multistate investigations, covering issues including consumer protection, antitrust, data privacy, and ESG. Chicago-based former Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan is a breakout star with diverse expertise in the fields of consumer protection, data privacy, healthcare, and the environment, while Donna Welch has secured key wins in litigation against pharmaceutical companies. In DC, Reginald Brown provides strategic counsel and crisis management assistance to clients facing complex and significant regulatory, enforcement and reputational matters, and Jennifer Levy is an excellent choice for state AG litigation, particularly with regard to pharmaceuticals and product liability. Brian Benczkowski has significant investigations and enforcement experience, and counts among his strengths healthcare, tech and financial services. Raya Treiser is a key contact for ESG matters, with strong relationships in the energy sector. Mark Filip, who splits his time between both offices, leads on defenses and investigations concerning pharmaceutical, healthcare, and tech companies, while Olivia Adendorff, who also has a base in Dallas, supports on consumer protection, false advertising, antitrust, and ESG claims.

Other key lawyers:

Lisa Madigan; Donna Welch; Reginald Brown; Jennifer Levy; Brian Benczkowski; Raya Treiser; Mark Filip; Olivia Adendorff


Key clients

JUUL Labs


Work highlights


  • Represented JUUL in multistate litigation involving allegations of fraudulent marketing, public nuisance and product liability claims.

Morrison Foerster

Firmly entrenched in the state attorneys general space, Morrison Foerster offers a tailored service representing high-profile companies and their executives in investigations and enforcement actions by AG offices across the country. Collaboration with the firm’s breadth of practice and industry groups, including banking, consumer products, privacy, technology, and healthcare, has allowed for an integrated approach to issues spanning public corruption, securities fraud, antitrust, cybersecurity, data privacy, and consumer protection. Former New York state and federal prosecutor Carrie Cohen is global co-chair of the firm’s investigations and white collar defense practice group, as well as leading the state and local government enforcement team, and is a recognized expert on public corruption, counseling corporations, boards, and C-suite executives in sensitive government-facing investigative and regulatory matters. Also based in New York, Nathan Reilly assists clients in navigating parallel investigations by multiple law enforcement agencies, with long-standing experience in public corruption, bribery, anti‑money laundering violations, financial crime, cybercrime, and national security-related issues.


Practice head(s):

Carrie Cohen


Other key lawyers:

Nathan Reilly


Key clients

California Attorney General’s Office (CAAG)


Work highlights


  • Assisted the CAAG with an independent review of the public release of confidential personal information for approximately 200,000 individuals contained in a firearm related database.
  • Represented a former New York Supreme Court Justice, John A. Michalek, who pled guilty to public corruption charges brought by the NYAG.

WilmerHale

WilmerHale‘s burgeoning state attorneys general practice supports an array of household names in tech, financial services, and life sciences in establishing relationships with AG offices across the country, anticipating issues that could trigger scrutiny, and coordinating and representing in multistate investigations. Extensive litigation experience is coupled with a full-service offering extending to regulatory counseling and subpoena responses. Leadership of the team is shared jointly between former chief of staff to the New York AG Brian Mahanna, who is frequently retained on complex investigations, corporate crises, and regulatory scrutiny matters, and former chief deputy AG at the Wisconsin Department of Justice Paul Connell, whose addition to the group in March 2023 expands its capabilities in the energy, tech, consumer protection, telecoms, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals spaces.

Practice head(s):

Brian Mahanna; Paul Connell


Testimonials

‘Great team, well-connected and respected in the AG community.’

Key clients

Walmart


King & Spalding

Representing both corporate clients and state governments, King & Spalding LLP offers great experience in managing and defending complex state attorneys general investigations and related enforcement actions. With industry expertise spanning tech, environment, financial services, healthcare, and sport, the team has been engaged in multistate litigation relating to issues as diverse as dialysis services, litigation funding, and environmental pollution. Washington DC-based J.C. Boggs, who assists major companies and trade associations with public policy and enforcement matters, co-chairs the practice alongside former White House special counsel Alicia O’Brien, who joined the firm in February 2023, bringing with her two decades of crisis management and investigations experience. In LA, Peter Hsiao heads the West Coast environmental, health and safety practice, and supports on defending investigations into violations of environmental law provisions, while Sacramento’s Greg Scott specializes in the healthcare, retail, and construction sectors. The group’s AG offering has also recently expanded through the additions of financial services, healthcare, and life sciences expert Adam Baker from the New Jersey district attorney’s office in March 2023, and tech, financial services, and consumer protection specialist Olivia Radin from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in January 2023, both based in New York, while DC-based former FBI and DOJ official Amelia Medina advises on the potential impacts of evolving regulatory and law enforcement priorities.

Practice head(s):

J.C. Boggs; Alicia O’Brien


Other key lawyers:

Peter Hsiao; Greg Scott; Adam Baker; Olivia Radin; Amelia Medina


Key clients

American Kidney Fund


Dialysis Patient Citizens Inc.


RD Legal Funding LLC


Egon Zehnder International RD


The State of Utah


The State of New Jersey


Work highlights


  • Acted for American Kidney Fund, Dialysis Patient Citizens, and others in successfully opposing the institution of California statute AB 290, thus overturning legislation that would have made dialysis services unaffordable to many in the state.
  • Represented RD Legal Funding in defending against litigation brought by the NYAG and the CFPB alleging fraudulent and usurious litigation funding deals related to the 9/11 Zadroga fund and the NFL concussion cases.
  • Acted for the State of Utah in the $200m Gold King Mine Blowout litigation in southern Colorado, arising from one of the largest inland pollution events in American history, in which the EPA is one of those being sued for liability.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Leveraging extensive public and private sector experience, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP helps clients navigate relationships with state attorneys general, develop and execute strategies to address enforcement responsibilities, and respond to single and multistate investigations. The team has been particularly successful in obtaining favorable decisions for major pharmaecutical companies involved in the high-profile multistate opioids litigation. The core practice is mainly based in Philadelphia, and led by Eric Sitarchuk, a seasoned litigator who has distinguished himself in the representation of Teva Pharmaceuticals, settling the opioid claims of all 50 state AGs. John Dodds fields a wealth of experience in investigations and litigation pertaining to claims of fraud and abuse, public corruption, and environmental offenses, while Rebecca Hillyer counsels and defends major pharmaceutical and healthcare companies facing multistate, multi-agency or parallel government investigations and litigation, and Jaclyn Whittaker focuses on anti-bribery, corruption, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters. Kelly Moore, who leads the white collar practice in New York, supports on white collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement, and securities and healthcare fraud.


Practice head(s):

Eric Sitarchuk


Other key lawyers:

John Dodds; Rebecca Hillyer; Jaclyn Whittaker; Kelly Moore


Testimonials

‘Good value, strong knowledge of healthcare industry, knows our business well.’

‘Jack Dodds is top of class when it comes to strategic advisors who are practical and persuasive and achieve positive outcomes.’

‘Highly skilled and strategic attorneys in the state attorneys general practice.’

‘Strategic thinkers with excellent intuition for handling sensitive matters.’

Key clients

Teva Pharmaceuticals


Teva USA


Cephalon


Rite Aid Headquarters Co.


AstraZeneca


Work highlights


  • Represented Teva in favorable nationwide settlements of opioids litigation and in favorable settlements with New York, Nevada, and West Virginia state attorneys general.
  • Represented AstraZeneca in a qui tam action in Texas state court involving alleged kickbacks in the form of nurse educator services and reimbursement support.
  • Represented Rite Aid in multidistrict litigation pending in the the Northern District of Ohio, consolidating more than 1,300 cases filed against Rite Aid by various governmental entities and alleging that manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies caused the opioid epidemic through marketing practices, excessive distribution, and improper dispensing.

Ropes & Gray LLP

A seasoned team of litigators and enforcement attorneys form the backbone of Ropes & Gray LLP‘s state attorneys general offering, assisting clients with navigating the complexities of the regulatory and enforcement environment. In conjunction with corporate, litigation, and regulatory experts from across the firm’s antitrust, data privacy, cybersecurity, life sciences, and healthcare groups, the team regularly represents clients in single and multistate investigations, litigation, and enforcement actions. Leading the charge are Chicago-based former federal healthcare fraud prosecutor Laura Hoey, Boston’s healthcare and life sciences expert John Bueker, and financial services specialist Gregg Weiner in New York. In Boston, James Dowden fields extensive experience counseling clients in enforcement proceedings and bet-the-company investigations, Andrew O’Connor specializes in fraud and antitrust, and Amy Roy primarily services financial services firms, investment advisers and mutual funds. Chong Park, who focuses on antitrust, consumer protection, and data privacy, is based in Washington DC, while healthcare veteran Stephen Warnke, and business, class action, and antitrust litigator Jane Willis operate out of New York. Former Assistant US Attorney at the US Attorney’s office in Los Angeles Ryan Weinstein joined the group as counsel in June 2023 from Covington & Burling LLP, increasing its capacity in healthcare, tech, sports, and financial services.

Practice head(s):

Laura Hoey; John Bueker; Gregg Weiner


Other key lawyers:

James Dowden; Andrew O’Connor; Amy Roy; Chong Park; Stephen Warnke; Jane Willis


Key clients

Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals plc


Work highlights


  • Represented Mallinckrodt in lawsuits brought by a coalition of state attorneys general against 26 pharmaceutical companies and 10 executives.

Williams & Connolly LLP

Williams & Connolly LLP continues to extend its reach in the state attorneys general space, acting for household names in both single and multistate investigations and litigation in sectors as diverse as healthcare, banking, and tech. In addition to its continuing representation of Cardinal Health in the multistate opioid distribution investigation, the Washington DC-based team has also been significantly engaged with AG interest in drug pricing, consumer protection, and banking and securities practices. The practice is jointly led by healthcare expert Jennifer Wicht, who also co-chairs the firm’s FCA and qui tam practice, and civil litigator Holly Conley, whose strengths include anti-kickback statutes, unfair trade practices, and IP. Ashley Hardin focuses on mass torts and multistate actions, while Grant Geyerman fields significant experience in professional liability defense, product liability, and class actions.

Practice head(s):

Jennifer Wicht; Holly Conley


Other key lawyers:

Ashley Hardin; Grant Geyerman


Key clients

Cardinal Health


Google


CVS Health


Amazon


CVS Health/Caremark


Tyco Fire Products, LP


Amazon


Work highlights


  • Acted as lead and national counsel for Cardinal Health in all attorney general litigation and investigations relating to the company’s distribution of opioid medications.
  • Acted for Google in the antitrust enforcement actions brought by the DoJ and various state AGs accusing the company of maintaining an illegal monopoly over internet search and search advertising.
  • Acted for CVS Health and its subsidiary Caremark in litigation brought by state attorneys general in multiple cases regarding drug pricing and rebates concerning a variety of products, including insulin and EpiPen.