WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 5, 2023 – Cozen O’Connor and North Carolina-based Morningstar Law Group are thrilled to announce a new strategic alliance to bring clients the combined strengths of Cozen O’Connor’s nationally preeminent State Attorneys General Group and Morningstar partner and former North Carolina First Assistant Attorney General, Swain Wood.
Through this groundbreaking alliance, Swain will collaborate seamlessly on particular matters with Cozen O’Connor’s State AG Group to represent Fortune 500 and other companies facing state AG inquiries, investigations, and litigation. The alliance will provide clients with unmatched insight into the unique dynamics and culture of AG investigations and litigation. In addition to relying on the decades of experience and national scope of Cozen O’Connor’s State AG Group — the largest and oldest of its kind devoted to state AG matters — clients will benefit from the added depth of experience and insight that Swain brings from his time directing some of the most complex individual and multistate AG investigations and litigation of the last decade.
“I am very excited to be able to work alongside Swain in our new strategic alliance. He is one of the most talented and creative attorneys I have worked with in more than 40 years of practice with state AGs and their staff,” said Cozen O’Connor State AG Group Co-Chair Bernie Nash. “Through our innovative alliance announced today, clients will benefit from Swain’s experience, insights, and credibility with AGs. Our new strategic alliance will further enhance the best-in-class legal representation already provided by our State AG Group.”
Cozen O’Connor was one of the first firms to establish a team dedicated to representing clients in AG investigations and litigation and counselling clients on state AG matters. Cozen O’Connor’s State AG Group is a leader in issues central to AG investigations and litigation, including antitrust, cybersecurity, data privacy, consumer protection, the environment, and labor laws. It serves a wide range of clients, from nimble startups to Fortune 50 companies.
While First Assistant Attorney General of North Carolina, Swain worked closely with state AGs and senior staff from nearly every state on multistate investigations, negotiations, and litigation. Most notably, Swain played a central role in constructing and negotiating the national opioid settlements, serving as leader of the multistate negotiating team in years-long settlement discussions with multiple Fortune 50 pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers and thousands of local governments. Those settlements created crisis abatement funds totaling more than $50 billion, achieved industry-changing injunctive relief, and helped resolve the massive opioid pharmaceutical liability litigation, which The New York Times has called “one of the most complicated and gargantuan legal battles in American history.”
“I have spent years working on the other side of the table from Swain to resolve some of the most complex AG investigations and litigation ever — including opioids,” said Co-Chair Lori Kalani. “His reputation in the state AG community is unmatched and, I know from experience, well-deserved. I could not be more excited to work with Swain as a colleague to provide clients the benefit of our combined experience, and innovative ways to approach challenges.”
Swain also achieved national recognition for leading North Carolina’s sweeping investigation and successful litigation against e-cigarette companies regarding their marketing practices, which resulted in North Carolina’s first-in-the-nation settlement with a leading e-cigarette manufacturer, including a consent order setting rules to prevent marketing nicotine to minors.
“I am extremely excited about this innovative collaboration on State AG-related matters. Bernie, Lori, and the Cozen O’Connor team have well-deserved reputations in the AG community as trusted counselors and problem-solvers, and their group is the gold-standard in this practice area.”
Morningstar Law Group is a multi-practice, market-leading firm based in North Carolina’s Research Triangle and capital city. Swain recently returned to the firm as a partner after completing six years as North Carolina’s First Assistant Attorney General and General Counsel to Attorney General Josh Stein. He also previously served in the Georgia AG’s office.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 825 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.
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