Swain Wood is one of the nation’s most experienced attorneys in managing complex multistate matters, advising Fortune 500 and other companies facing state AG inquiries, investigations, and litigation. Currently, Swain is also a partner at North Carolina-based Morningstar Law Group. Through Cozen O’Connor’s strategic alliance with Swain and Morningstar, we are able to offer clients and prospective clients Swain’s experience and insights in seamless collaboration with the Cozen O’Connor State Attorneys General Group.
The former first assistant attorney general of North Carolina and general counsel to Attorney General Josh Stein, Swain draws upon a deep well of knowledge garnered from almost a decade of government service working closely with state AGs and senior staff from nearly every state on complex multistate investigations, negotiations, and litigation involving a wide range of national issues and industries.
Swain played a central role in constructing and negotiating the national opioid settlements with major pharmaceutical companies, which helped resolve what the New York Times has called “one of the most complicated and gargantuan legal battles in American history.” As part of that effort, Swain served 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. The resulting global settlements created crisis abatement funds totaling more than $50 billion and achieved industry-changing injunctive relief.
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.
Before being appointed first assistant attorney general by North Carolina AG Josh Stein, Swain was a partner at Morningstar Law Group, where he recently returned. He also previously served in the Georgia AG’s Office.