Recent Publication:
Lori Kalani, Bernie Nash and Mira Baylson kick off our team’s analysis of the 2022 state AG election season with early observations.
Lori understands that dealing with state attorneys general (AGs) can be challenging for companies at all stages of their life cycle. Lori’s clients seek her counsel on navigating the intersection between business, public policy, and the law. She partners with her clients to identify and address complex issues and advance clients’ strategic business goals, by providing:
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assessment of the regulatory landscape and development of compliant business practices;
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strategies for potential transactions;
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interpretation of the application of consumer protection laws in all 50 states; and
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strategic defense against enforcement actions and investigations.
Lori’s path to leading Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General Group began during her almost 10 years as in-house counsel for DISH Network. Lori was the attorney responsible for managing the interface between DISH and government regulators, and in that role she established working relationships with state AGs and their staffs. She met with AGs in all 50 states, and developed an in-depth understanding of each office’s enforcement priorities, how they functioned, and how to best work with them.
In private practice, Lori has continued her strategic, direct interaction with AGs across the country. Her business savvy, together with her extensive legal, political, and policy experience, has gained her the trust of state regulators. She regularly attends national AG association meetings, and meets one-on-one with AGs in their home states. This allows her not only to respond to, but in many cases to anticipate, client issues that may arise, and move swiftly to develop a thoughtful and strategic position that aligns with her clients’ objectives. She is well-versed in developing practical solutions for clients ranging from rapidly scaling entrepreneurial tech businesses at opportunity crossroads to long-established Fortune 50 companies needing to adapt to fast-moving regulatory change.
Lori manages cases and negotiates resolutions to AG issues and challenges on behalf of companies in both regulated and non-regulated industries, including direct-to-consumer sales, financial services, gaming, social media, telecommunications, retail, transportation, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, hospitality, energy, and health care. She also advises charitable organizations and trade associations. She is often called on to serve as co-counsel focusing on state AG issues in complex, multi-agency cases, working in close partnership with other law firms.
Whether addressing alleged consumer protection claims, environmental violations, data breaches, false claims act issues, or other state enforcement actions, Lori looks beyond the facts of the current situation to resolve the matter at hand, with an eye to minimizing her clients’ future legal exposure.
Lori is actively involved in AG organizations and programs throughout the country, including serving on the Attorney General Alliance Advisory Board and the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia’s Law Firm Advisory Committee. Lori is a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Board of Directors and serves on the firm's PAC Governance and Shareholder Compensation Committees.
News
December 03, 2021
In a panel on Knowing and Mitigating Litigation and Regulatory Risk, Lori commented: “I think when you add in money and you add in minors and you add in marketing and responsible gaming…I just had to say those are all issues where state AGs are not going to be quiet”
May 26, 2021
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.
May 12, 2021
Lori Kalani was quoted in Bloomberg Law discussing the growth in law firms that have played out over the past five to 10 years in response to state AGs’ ramped up enforcement work in antitrust, health care, worker rights, and other areas.
May 12, 2021
Lori Kalani was highlighted by law.com about her career growth.
April 05, 2021
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Bernard Nash and Lori Kalani, co-chairs of the firm’s State Attorneys General practice, Michael Schmidt, vice chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Department, and Rachel Welford, an attorney in the firm’s Transportation & Trade Group have been selected as top authors for JD Supra’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards for their thought leadership on key topics during 2020.
March 03, 2021
Reuters noted the addition of former Nebraska Consumer Protection Chief Meghan Stoppel to Cozen O’Connor’s expanding State AG Group. The article quotes Group Co-Chair, Lori Kalani: “the firm strives to add lawyers to the practice who have specialized expertise with state attorney general matters, which can make it difficult to expand. The firm feels very fortunate to have been able to hire Meghan.”
February 01, 2021
State AG Group co-chairs, Lori Kalani and Bernie Nash, recently discussed the nomination of California AG, Xavier Becerra, to head up the Department of Health and Human Services with Healthcare Dive.
January 11, 2021
Former Wisconsin deputy attorney general Paul Connell has joined Cozen O’Connor in Chicago, calling the firm’s state attorneys general practice the “market leader in the space.”
May 14, 2020
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 63 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2020 edition.
December 23, 2019
Lori Kalani, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General practice was quoted in a Bloomberg Law article discussing the cascading effect likely to result from the enactment of California’s new privacy laws and other actions by state attorneys general to hold companies accountable for collection and use of consumer data.
November 06, 2019
Bernard Nash and Lori Kalani were quoted in Bloomberg Law, discussing the strain that antitrust probes of Alphabet, Inc.’s Google and of Facebook, Inc. may place on the budgets of state Attorneys General already handling resource-intensive investigations and suits relating to opioids and drug-price fixing.
July 11, 2019
Lori Kalani was quoted in The American Lawyer about attorneys general and state agencies taking action against litigation funders under state consumer protection laws.
April 25, 2019
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the USA, has ranked 57 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the Guide’s 2019 edition.
February 08, 2019
Bernie Nash and Lori Kalani discussed with Corporate Counsel which sectors may see more aggressive scrutiny from state attorneys general in 2019, the kinds of actions corporations can expect to see, and how to be prepared.
September 11, 2018
Cozen O’Connor has elected shareholders James H. Heller, Lori Kalani, Howard Maycon, and Martin Schrier to the firm’s board of directors.
May 02, 2018
Bernard Nash and Lori Kalani, co-chairs of Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General practice, were quoted in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin regarding the trend of state AGs bringing lawsuits against the federal government, from the Reagan administration to the present.
February 13, 2018
Thirty states plus the District of Columbia will hold elections for State AG this year, including at least ten open-seat races. AGs appointed by governors or legislatures may change in an additional five states in 2018.
September 19, 2017
Lori Kalani, co-chair, and Jerry Kilgore, a member of Cozen O'Connor's State Attorneys General practice, joined Josh Long of Natural Product Insider for his podcast.
June 29, 2017
Bernie Nash and Lori Kalani, both members of Cozen O'Connor's State Attorneys General practice, discuss how law firms can prepare for more State AG actions in Law360.
May 26, 2017
Chambers USA recognized 47 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; 14 attorneys were recognized nationally and 11 were ranked in the top band.
May 22, 2017
Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General practice group has received the Burton Award’s first “Blog of the Year Award in Law.” The national awards program is held in association with the Library of Congress and co-sponsored by the American Bar Association.
April 25, 2017
Lori Kalani, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General practice, recently had the opportunity to speak to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey about her efforts in concert with other AGs challenging the Trump Administration in several key policy areas, as well as her other priorities and issues of focus as an attorney general.
Publications
January 20, 2022
Lori Kalani, Bernie Nash and Mira Baylson kick off our team’s analysis of the 2022 state AG election season with early observations.
January 06, 2022
The State AG Report – 1.6.2022
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
December 23, 2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
December 16, 2021
The State AG Report – 12.16.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
December 09, 2021
The State AG Report – 12.9.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
November 18, 2021
The State AG Report – 11.18.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
November 17, 2021
Lori Kalani, Mira Baylson, and Meghan Stoppel provide a primer on web scraping as well as an overview of the legal and regulatory challenges.
November 11, 2021
The State AG Report – 11.11.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
November 04, 2021
The State AG Report – 11.4.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
October 28, 2021
The State AG Report – 10.28.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
October 21, 2021
The State AG Report – 10.21.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
October 14, 2021
The State AG Report – 10.14.2012
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
September 30, 2021
The State AG Report – 9.30.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
September 23, 2021
The State AG Report – 9.23.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
September 16, 2021
The State AG Report – 9.16.20214
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
September 09, 2021
The State AG Report – 9.9.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
August 26, 2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
August 19, 2021
The State AG Report – 8.19.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
August 12, 2021
The State AG Report – 8.12.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
August 05, 2021
The State AG Report – 8.5.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
July 29, 2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
July 22, 2021
The State AG Report – 7.22.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US.
July 15, 2021
The State AG Report – 7.15.2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US:
July 08, 2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US
July 06, 2021
Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General Group co-chair Lori Kalani and members Mira Baylson and Meghan Stoppel recently authored an article in Infosecurity, “Considerations When Sharing Information with an AG's Office” offering advice for companies looking to better protect the sensitive information they submit to government entities in response to an inquiry or investigation.
July 02, 2021
Cozen O’Connor’s State AG Report, the go-to resource for issues relating to state attorneys general (AGs), has again in 2021 received the “Blog of the Year Award in Law” presented by the prestigious Burton Awards. Since 1999, The Burton Awards has rewarded excellence in the legal profession and we are honored to receive this recognition.
July 01, 2021
Here are last week’s curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the United States.
June 11, 2021
Lori Kalani spoke with Richard Levick about what inspired her to build a State AG practice, the importance of personal AG relationships, trends in AG prosecution as we emerge from COVID-19, and how general counsels can prioritize and improve their AG relationships.
June 09, 2021
State AG Group co-chair, Lori Kalani, and members Ann-Marie Luciano and Meghan Stoppel, offer best practice advice for companies whose security has been breached and comment on trends in AG enforcement.
April 08, 2021
2022 AG Elections
County District Attorney Launches Bid for Wisconsin Attorney General
Fond du Lac County DA Eric Toney announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2022 race for the Wisconsin AG’s office, currently held by Democratic AG Josh Kaul.
Toney was first elected to...
April 01, 2021
2023 AG Elections
Candidates Ready to Vie for Louisiana Attorney General’s Office Should Incumbent Not Seek Reelection
Louisiana Third District Attorney John Belton announced his plans to run for Louisiana AG if incumbent AG Jeff Landry does not seek reelection. Belton is not currently...
March 25, 2021
State AGs in the News
Governor Newsom Nominates Rob Bonta for California Attorney General
Governor Gavin Newsom nominated California Assemblyman Rob Bonta to replace Xavier Becerra as California AG. Bonta’s appointment will need to be confirmed by the California legislature.
According to...
March 18, 2021
Antitrust
Attorneys General Testify in House Hearing on Big Tech and Competition
On March 18, 2021, Colorado AG Phil Weiser and Nebraska AG Doug Peterson testified before the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law of the House’s Committee on the Judiciary in a hearing...
March 11, 2021
2022 AG Elections
Kansas Attorney General Eyes Governor’s Mansion
Kansas AG Derek Schmidt announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2022.
Schmidt, who first assumed the AG’s office in 2011, is the first Republican to announce his candidacy to unseat Democratic...
March 04, 2021
Cozen in the News
Meghan Stoppel, Former Nebraska Consumer Protection Division Chief, Joins State Attorneys General Group
Former Nebraska Consumer Protection Division Chief Meghan Stoppel joined Cozen O’Connor’s State AG Group as a Member. She is a Certified Information Privacy...
February 25, 2021
2022 AG Elections
Republican Candidate Seeks 2022 Rematch Against Minnesota’s Incumbent Attorney General
Doug Wardlow, general counsel for My Pillow, Inc. and a former state representative, has announced he will again seek the Republican nomination for Minnesota AG.
If he were to receive...
February 18, 2021
Cozen in the News
Cozen O’Connor State AG Group Attorneys Discuss Workplace Enforcement Priorities and Regulatory Risks
Cozen O’Connor State AG Group members Maria Colsey Heard and Ann-Marie Luciano published an article in Bloomberg Law in which they discussed how state attorneys general are...
February 11, 2021
2022 AG Elections
Arkansas Lt. Governor Announces Intent to Run for Attorney General
Arkansas Republican Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin announced that he is dropping his gubernatorial bid and is running for Arkansas AG instead.
Current two-term Arkansas AG Leslie Rutledge, a Republican, is...
February 04, 2021
Cozen in the News
Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General Practice Co-Chairs Quoted in Article About HHS Secretary Nominee
Bernie Nash and Lori Kalani, Co-Chairs of Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General Practice, are quoted in a Healthcare Dive article discussing the expectations for...
January 28, 2021
Breaking News
New Leadership at the FTC
President Joseph R. Biden designated Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter as Acting Chair of the FTC.
As Commissioner, Chairwoman Slaughter advocated for the “aggressive use of the FTC’s authorities,” and has been...
January 21, 2021
State AGs in the News
Alaska Governor Nominates Acting Attorney General to Be Attorney General
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy nominated acting Alaska AG Clyde “Ed” Sniffen for the AG position. The nomination must be confirmed by the Alaska Legislature.
As previously reported, Acting AG...
January 14, 2021
Cozen in the News
Paul Connell, Former Wisconsin Deputy Attorney General, Joins Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General Group
Former Wisconsin Deputy AG Paul Connell has joined Cozen O’Connor’s State AG Group as a Member.
Connell served as Deputy AG and as senior counsel to then-Wisconsin...
January 07, 2021
Antitrust
Google Is in the Crosshairs of Two Multistate Antitrust Suits
Two groups of AGs filed antitrust lawsuits against Google LLC (“Google”).
A group of seven Republican AGs, led by Texas AG Ken Paxton, sued Google over allegations that it violated the Sherman Act and state antitrust...
December 17, 2020
COVID-19
Defunct Travel Agency To Refund Travelers Who Paid Twice for Their Lodgings
Massachusetts AG Maura Healey reached a settlement with online travel agency BookIt Operating LLC d/b/a BookIt.com and its CEO (collectively “BookIt”) to resolve allegations that it knowingly collected money...
December 10, 2020
2020 AG Elections
Maine AG Aaron Frey was reelected to a second two-year term by a joint convention of the Maine House and Senate.
California AG Xavier Becerra was nominated by President-Elect Joe Biden to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”). Should AG Becerra be...
December 03, 2020
Cozen In The News
Cozen O’Connor Member Jerry Kilgore Recognized for Contributions to NAAG
Earlier this week, former Virginia Attorney General and Cozen O’Connor member, Jerry Kilgore, was recognized amongst his peers during the Society of Attorneys General Emeritus (“SAGE”) Business Meeting...
November 19, 2020
2020 AG Elections
Just Called: Incumbent Attorney General Wins Second Term in North Carolina
North Carolina AG Josh Stein (D) won reelection in a closely watched race over Jim O’Neill (R) by a margin of 51% to 49.9%.
AG Stein, first elected in 2016, will serve his second term in office....
November 12, 2020
2020 AG Elections
New Leadership Team at the Republican Attorneys General Association
The Republican Attorneys General Association (“RAGA”) announced the election of the leadership team for its Executive Committee for 2021, which will be led by Chairman Georgia AG Chris Carr, Vice-Chairman...
November 05, 2020
2020 AG Elections
Ten AG elections were held on November 3, 2020. As of this writing, six incumbent AGs won their elections, and Republicans held the open-seats in Indiana and Montana. In the two undecided races, Democratic incumbents in North Carolina and Pennsylvania are narrowly leading...
April 22, 2020
Lori Kalani and Ann-Marie Luciano discuss privacy and data security issues state AGs are investigating and what technology companies can do to prevent these issues.