AG Coalition Targets Gun Store Merchant Code | FTC Sheds Light on Dark Patterns | AG Bonta Rings Up Safeway Gas Tank Tab
The State AG Report – 9.22.2022
Here are this 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:
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AG Bonta Fines Safeway for Gasoline Storage Tank Violations in California
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AGs Issue Warning on Merchant Code for Gun Stores
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Michigan AG Nessel Announces Cleanup Order for Lockhart Chemical for Flint River Spills
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AG Knudsen Leads Coalition Urging Finding Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction
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FTC Releases Report Detailing Use of “Dark Patterns” to Manipulate Online Consumers
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Bipartisan AG Coalition Supports Enhanced Robocall Regulations
Read more here.
As their state’s chief legal officer, state attorneys general (AGs) wield broad authority to investigate and take action on virtually any subject and in any industry. With the increasing use of the office as a springboard for higher political ambitions, AGs across the country are continuing to grow in prominence, power, and influence. Any company that hires employees, makes or sells a product, offers a service, conducts marketing, or engages with consumers may be subject to scrutiny by an AG.
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. Our attorneys work at the cutting edge of issues of critical importance to AGs, including antitrust, cybersecurity, data privacy, consumer protection, the environment, and labor laws. We serve a wide range of clients, from nimble start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. With more than 40 years’ experience, and backed by the resources of an AmLaw Global 100 firm, we help companies analyze and interpret AGs’ interests and understand how those interests inform their enforcement and policy priorities. We actively engage in dialogue with AG offices and regularly attend AG events and meetings to advocate on our clients’ behalf. Our team is nationally recognized for our deep understanding of how every AG office operates and our relationships in the AG community. When AGs, either alone, in multi-state actions, or jointly with federal agencies, focus their attention on a company’s activities or business practices and an investigation or lawsuit ensues, we have the experience and knowledge to mount a vigorous defense.
Members of the Cozen O’Connor State AG Group have served both in senior government and in-house positions, providing us with a unique perspective and ability to assist our clients. We have first-hand experience in the formulation of policy positions and long-standing professional relationships with key decision-makers. We also appreciate the imperatives of business, and are focused on achieving practical solutions that align with our clients’ long term strategic business goals.
Our services include:
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Establishing and maintaining dialogue with AGs
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Anticipating and crafting creative solutions to address state AG and federal agency policy positions that impact clients
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Minimizing litigation exposure
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Defending vigorously against AG investigations and lawsuits
As the internet has revolutionized business, whole industries such as transportation, gaming, energy, financial services and hospitality have been turned on their heads by new entrants, new technologies, and new ways of doing business. We have particular experience working with clients to address the “square peg, round hole” issues brought by innovators in these “disrupted” industries, as well as in other industries such as banking, software and technology, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and nutritional and dietary supplements.
AFFIRMATIVE OUTREACH EFFORTS AND CAMPAIGNS
State AGs can be powerful allies, or indeed adversaries, when it comes to causes and issues their constituents care about. Our team formulates and executes multi-pronged outreach and advocacy efforts to educate AGs and encourage action that supports our clients’ business goals. Based on our in-depth knowledge of policy, state law, and individual AGs’ priorities, we focus on those AGs where there is alignment with our clients’ business objectives. We aim to control and shape our clients’ narrative, before someone else does.
State AGs can have a significant impact on the outcome of litigation as amici. Our team regularly works with clients to identify state AG champions who would have a stake in Supreme Court cases affecting their interests and have secured AG amicus support in the U.S. Supreme Court in many landmark cases, including Concepcion, Twombly and linkLine.
INVESTIGATIONS AND LITIGATION
As the chief consumer protection advocates in their states, AGs regularly investigate and take enforcement action against businesses under their states’ unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices laws (commonly referred to as UDAP laws). Our team has successfully resolved investigations and other enforcement actions involving all 50 states and the District of Columbia in connection with alleged violations of consumer protection laws involving sales, marketing, pricing, and labeling of products and services. On behalf of our clients, we also regularly work with consumer protection staff within state AG offices to address consumer complaints and resolve potential disputes before they escalate to lengthy and expensive litigation or investigations.
We also have extensive experience advising clients in antitrust matters involving state and federal competition enforcers, particularly as federal agencies have begun coordinating and undertaking joint actions with their AG counterparts. Our lawyers regularly handle investigations and high-stakes litigation involving state AGs and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). We regularly clear mergers with AG antitrust enforcers, and have represented clients with respect to the largest mergers in the telecommunications and pharmaceutical industries.
COMPLEX DISPUTE RESOLUTION
With a deep bench of experience defending actions brought by AGs, our team defends companies facing civil investigative demands, subpoenas, and lawsuits. Given today’s rapid escalation in active enforcement, AG action can result in critical business exposure. AGs may act alone, as part of a multi-state action, or in concert with other federal regulators such as the DOJ, FTC, CFPB, FCC, and SEC, as well as Congress. We have represented clients in large and complex “bet-the-company” suits that often present novel legal issues and involve coordinated action by numerous AGs. We work with our clients to facilitate favorable outcomes throughout the entirety of a matter from document collection, review and production, discovery, pre-trial motions, settlement negotiations, and, if necessary, trial.
DATA PRIVACY AND INFORMATION SECURITY
Enforcement of data protection and privacy laws has become an area of intense focus for AGs in recent years. We advise companies in the retail, finance, healthcare, credit card, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and other industries on cybersecurity, data privacy, and information security matters before AGs. We conduct data breach counseling, represent clients facing AG scrutiny for their data management practices, assist clients in navigating the complex data breach notification process, and help resolve AG inquiries into data loss. We also conduct internal investigations and counsel clients with respect to the legal, political, and public relations issues that result from data breach incidents.
September 22, 2022
The State AG Report - 9.22.2022
Here are this 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 15, 2022
The State AG Report – 9/15/2022
Here are this 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 08, 2022
The State AG Report 9.8.2022
Here are this 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 01, 2022
The State AG Report – 09.01.2022
Here are this 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 25, 2022
The State AG Report – 8.25.2022
Here are this 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 23, 2022
In an Attorney Analysis published in WestLaw Today, Meghan Stoppel illuminates AGs’ concern that any federal privacy legislation protect the states’ ability to pass future, potentially more expansive privacy laws
August 12, 2022
Lori Kalani, Bernie Nash and Chris Allen joined host Richard Levick on the “In House Warrior” podcast to discuss all things state AG.
August 11, 2022
The State AG Report – 8.11.2022
Here are this 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 04, 2022
The State AG Report 8.4.2022
Here are this 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 01, 2022
Lori, Bernie and Mira take a final look at the incumbents and the challengers, and speculate on the make-up of what looks like a bumper freshman class of AGs entering office in 2023.
July 28, 2022
The State AG Report 7.28.2022
Here are this 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 25, 2022
Bernie, Mira and Milton discuss whether the candidates’ backgrounds, or an endorsement by the outgoing AG, could be the deciding factor in the tight race for the Massachusetts AG’s office.
July 21, 2022
The State AG Report – 7.21.2022
Here are this 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 18, 2022
The State AG Report – 7.14.2022
Here are this 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 18, 2022
Lori, Bernie and native Kansan Meghan Stoppel debate the chances of the three Republican candidates in the August 2 Kansas primary, and whether the moderates will split the vote to the benefit of the polarizing Trumpian candidate.
July 11, 2022
In Arizona, a crowded field means having money to spend on name recognition and get-out-the-vote efforts will be the key to success. Jerry Kilgore and Paul Connell discuss the candidates that have it… and those that don’t.
July 01, 2022
Lori, Bernie and Chris engage Sean Rankin, President of the Democratic AGs Association, on the challenges and opportunities he sees for the Democratic party as it fights headwinds going into the November 2022 election.
June 30, 2022
The State AG Report – 6.30.2022
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.
June 23, 2022
The State AG Report – 6.23.2022
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.
June 20, 2022
The two leading contenders for Maryland AG come from very different backgrounds. In this week’s podcast, host Bernie and his State AG Group colleagues Milton Marquis and Chris Allen debate what this means for their election prospects and the future of the Maryland AG’s office.
June 16, 2022
The State AG Report – 6.16.2022
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.
June 13, 2022
In this week’s episode, Lori gets together with fellow State AG Group members Maria Colsey Heard and Ann-Marie Luciano to talk about the evolution of the DC Office of the Attorney General into a national powerhouse, Karl Racine’s legacy as its first elected AG, and this year’s contentious race.
June 13, 2022
Mira Baylson, Meghan Stoppel and Gianna Puccinelli examine recent developments around the question of the legality of delta-8 THC and similar products and what they mean for cannabis companies.
June 09, 2022
The State AG Report – 6.9.2022
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.
June 06, 2022
In this first of four panel discussions held at the 2022 NAAG Spring Conference, three sitting AGs discussed the most pressing and cutting-edge consumer protection issues they are confronting.
June 06, 2022
The second panel of the day was hosted by Iowa’s Deputy AG for Public Protection, Jessica Whitney, and focused on the emerging issues involving so-called “dark patterns,” and whether they constitute deceptive or unfair trade practices.
June 06, 2022
This week Lori and fellow State AG Group team member Mira Baylson are in conversation with former AGs Frank Sue Del Papa of Nevada and Betty Montgomery of Ohio, both phenomenal leaders with distinguished track records of achievement in their states.
June 06, 2022
The fourth panel of the day examined the complexities of negotiating resolutions to state AG investigations and litigation, and featured panelists with extensive experience resolving multistate AG investigations and litigation.
June 06, 2022
The third panel was comprised of consumer protection chiefs from Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio and Vermont. It provided a brief glimpse into the most common complaints received by their respective offices, and how those complaints are mediated by their staff.
June 02, 2022
The State AG Report – 6.2.2022
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.
May 26, 2022
The State AG Report – 5.26.2022
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.
May 23, 2022
This week Bernie and Lori engage with State AG Group team member Chris Allen on the race in New Mexico, where the AG’s office is likely to stay blue but a red wave, if it comes, could shake things up. They also ponder AGs’ use of outside counsel to supplement – or supplant - internal AG staff resources.
May 19, 2022
The State AG Report – 5.19.2022
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
May 16, 2022
In this week’s episode, hosts Bernie Nash and Jerry Kilgore talk with Pete Bisbee of the Republican Attorneys General Association about what RAGA is, how it recruits candidates, and how it raises money to fund races. They speculate on election winners and losers, and we hear Pete’s diagnosis of potentially vulnerable Democrats and his “just crazy” prediction.
May 12, 2022
The State AG Report – 5.12.2022
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
May 12, 2022
In the fifth article in our Elections 2022 series, Chris Allen and Mira Baylson discuss how the political affiliations of state attorneys general matter—and how they don’t.
May 09, 2022
On May 9th, State AG Group member Milton Marquis was featured on the American Bar Association’s Our Curious Amalgam podcast, talking about how states join together to conduct antitrust investigations and the differences between state and federal antitrust enforcement.
May 09, 2022
In this week’s episode, we make our prediction for who the new Arkansas AG will be, and talk about the value of meeting with your AG and what a difference an open-door policy makes.
May 03, 2022
In the fourth article in our Elections 2022 series, Mira Baylson and Chris Allen focus on what businesses should be thinking about as changes in state AG offices loom.
May 02, 2022
In this week's episode, co-hosts Lori Kalani and Bernard Nash are joined by fellow State AG Group member Meghan Stoppel.
April 28, 2022
The State AG Report – 4.29.2022
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.
April 26, 2022
Mira Baylson, Meghan Stoppel and Gianna Puccinelli analyze ways in which AGs are stepping in to reshape enforcement practices—and deeply-held beliefs—for a previously illegal drug.
April 25, 2022
Welcome to State AG Pulse, a podcast from Cozen O’Connor’s State AG Group.
April 21, 2022
The State AG Report – 4.21.2022
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
April 14, 2022
The State AG Report – 4.14.2022
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.
April 07, 2022
The State AG Report – 4.7.2022
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.
April 01, 2022
In WestLaw Today, Meghan Stoppel analyzes how businesses can engage in the rulemaking process and prepare as more states launch new privacy laws.
March 31, 2022
The State AG Report – 3.31.2022
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.
March 25, 2022
In this Legal Opinion Letter published by Washington Legal Foundation, Bernie Nash, Milton Marquis, and Mira Baylson consider the FleetCor case and what it means for businesses post-AMG Capital.
March 17, 2022
The State AG Report – 3.17.2022
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.
March 10, 2022
The State AG Report – 3.10.2022
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.
March 03, 2022
The State AG Report – 3.3.2022
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.
February 24, 2022
The State AG Report – 2.24.2022
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.
February 14, 2022
In our second article analyzing the impact of the 2022 state AG elections on corporate America, Jerry Kilgore and Chris Allen look at how an AG’s experience prior to taking office can inform a business’s approach.
February 10, 2022
The State AG Report – 2.10.2022
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.
February 03, 2022
The State AG Report – 2.3.2022
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.
January 27, 2022
The State AG Report – 1.28.2022
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.
January 26, 2022
Lori Kalani and Keturah Taylor give five tips to deter regulatory scrutiny businesses should pay close attention to as they navigate through the supply chain and other economic disruptions.
January 20, 2022
The State AG Report – 1.20.2022
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.
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.
December 02, 2021
The State AG Report – 12.2.2021
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 25, 2021
Mira Baylson, Meghan Stoppel, and Gianna Puccinelli discuss California's new law AB-45 that prohibits restrictions on the sale of dietary supplements, food, beverages, cosmetics, or pet food that contains CBD.
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.
September 01, 2021
Mira Baylson, Meghan Stoppel, and Gianna Puccinelli discuss Colorado State AG's letter to Congress regarding national cannabis reform and the recently proposed legislation, and how states and the federal government have worked together in the past to enact legislation and regulations.
August 31, 2021
Milton Marquis, Ann-Marie Luciano and Gianna Puccinelli analyze recent state AG antitrust enforcement trends, provide insight into targeted industries and consider future roles for state AGs.
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 24, 2021
Marijuana legalization activists have finally won the support of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R). On Friday August 20, AG Yost approved summary language in a petition submission for a proposed law, the “Act to Control and Regulate Adult Use Cannabis,” penned by the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (the Coalition).
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 10, 2021
On the heels of our piece from last week about the value of seeking state attorneys general (AG) buy-in on draft legislation, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) rejected a petition submission for a proposed law that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the state.
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.
August 02, 2021
In this Client Alert Meghan Stoppel and Gianna Puccinelli discuss how monitoring state AGs’ views on draft legislation and proposed ballot initiatives can help indicate the likelihood of success of such measures.
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 28, 2021
In this Law360 article State AG Group members Meghan Stoppel and Gianna Puccinelli highlight issues general counsel and their tax advisers may wish to consider when negotiating settlements with state attorneys general arising from recent changes to the IRS code.
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 14, 2021
As marijuana legalization rolls out across the nation, state AGs will play a critical role in the interpretation and development of marijuana policy and enforcement.
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 23, 2021
State AG Group member Meghan Stoppel was quoted in a recent Cybersecurity Law Report article “Colorado Privacy Law Finishes Third, but Could Become the New Standard.”
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.
June 07, 2021
Paul Connell was featured in the Aquinas Report - a bi-annual magazine published by the Aquinas Catholic Schools in LaCrosse, Wisconsin (Paul is an alum).
June 02, 2021
Meghan Stoppel discusses the history of state AG and FTC collaboration and how AMG Capital may change that collaboration going forward.
May 05, 2021
Bernie Nash, Milton Marquis, and Mira Baylson authored an article predicting that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling revoking the FTC’s ability to go straight to federal court to seek monetary relief for unfair or deceptive acts will strengthen the commission’s partnership with state attorneys general.
April 29, 2021
State AG Group members, Meghan Stoppel and Mira Baylson penned an article for Cannabis Business Executive on the real threat of regulatory scrutiny and the importance of a carefully crafted marketing campaign for companies manufacturing and selling CBD.
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 16, 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused state attorneys general to accelerate their workplace enforcement efforts and is reshaping the issues businesses must consider to avoid regulatory risk. Cozen O’Connor State AG Group partners Maria Colsey Heard and Ann-Marie Luciano explain what steps businesses should take to respond. Read the Bloomberg Law piece here or here.
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...
October 22, 2020
Jerry Kilgore discusses the state AG races taking place across the country, the outcomes of which will have a profound impact on their states’ constituents and businesses.
June 30, 2020
Christopher J. Allen discusses state AGs wielding their legal, political, and policy-making authority and increasing enforcement to protect consumers, enhance data privacy and security, eliminate price-gouging, and combat false claims for payment to state authorities.
May 15, 2020
Danielle Sapega discusses the Pennsylvania attorney general's investigation into nursing homes, the Department of Health's guidance for nursing homes, and the governor's executive order granting immunity to health care workers.
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.
March 12, 2020
Trevor McGuinness discusses ways to avoid email scammers and hackers who may use the coronavirus as a way of accessing computers and personal information.
March 12, 2020
Christopher Allen discusses how Attorneys General (“AGs”) are manning the front line in keeping consumers from becoming victims of scams, abuse, or fraud using the powers they have wielded for decades across a wide range of industries to combat deceptive and misleading claims and unfair business practices.
February 10, 2020
More and more companies are experiencing crippling data breaches. We analyzed recent state Attorney General and FTC enforcement actions to identify eight data security best practices that companies can adopt to mitigate the likelihood of a breach which can be found in this infographic.
February 03, 2020
Ann-Marie Luciano, Chris Allen, and Bryan Mosca published an article in Bloomberg Law on February 3, 2020, sharing their observations on trends in state Attorney General activity in 2019, and the enforcement priorities they expect to see AGs focus on in 2020.
August 26, 2019
Milton Marquis, Ann-Marie Luciano & Keturah Taylor published an article highlighting the growing role of State Attorneys General utilizing their antitrust authority on a national scale through multistate action and co-enforcement activity with their federal counterparts.
February 20, 2019
Ann-Marie Luciano and Jawaria Gilani discuss the State Attorneys General actions relating to opioids in 2018 and predict enforcement trends for 2019.
October 30, 2018
On this podcast, Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies Managing Partner Howard Schweitzer and Former Virginia Attorney General and member of the Cozen O’Connor State AG group Jerry Kilgore join Blake Rutherford to discuss the highlights of key incumbent and open seat races in the 31 State AG elections in 2018.
October 17, 2018
An article authored by JB Kelly and Bryan Mosca has been published in the most recent quarterly issue of Today’s General Counsel.
June 01, 2018
Bryan Mosca, a member of Cozen O'Connor's State Attorneys General practice and Mark Quist, a law clerk of the firm's State Attorneys General practice, wrote about the implications of the gaming industry with legalized sports gambling in New Jersey.
September 26, 2022
Andrew Baer and Mira Baylson have been named to The Philadelphia Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar 2022.”
August 15, 2022
Cozen O’Connor today announced that Siran S. Faulders—who served as Virginia’s section chief and senior assistant attorney general for nearly a decade before moving to private practice—has joined its nationally recognized State Attorneys General Group in Washington DC.
June 02, 2022
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.
February 01, 2022
Lori Kalani and Keturah Taylor’s five tips for retailers and other parties impacted by supply chain snafus are a must-read for businesses wanting to avoid attention from state AGs.
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”
August 19, 2021
Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
July 08, 2021
The State AG Group’s Bernard Nash and Keturah Taylor have notched another win for client CardX, LLC. with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signing into law SB 21-091 a measure repealing the state's prohibition on credit card surcharges, joining a wave of other states that have recently done the same.
June 21, 2021
University of Pennsylvania Law School recently published an article highlighting alumni Mira Baylson’s extraordinary pro bono and public interest work.
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 highlighted by law.com about her career growth.
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.
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.”
March 02, 2021
Stoppel has served in high-level public roles and led and resolved multistate investigations in key industries including education, financial services, health care, and pharmaceuticals.
March 01, 2021
The Kansas District Court issued a judgment on Friday Feb 26 in favor of our client, Chicago-based payments technology company CardX, LLC, declaring that a Kansas law prohibiting credit card surcharges was unconstitutional as applied to CardX’s surcharging model. The court held that the statute violated CardX’s First Amendment right to commercial speech by unjustifiably controlling how prices are communicated to consumers. This judgment brings the number of states in which CardX is able to operate to 47, with only Colorado, Connecticut and Massachusetts continuing surcharge bans.
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 20, 2021
Expecting an influx of activity by state attorneys general in litigation and pandemic-related regulations, Cozen O’Connor LLP added its first Chicago-based attorney to its state AGs practice.
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.”
January 11, 2021
Connell served as deputy attorney general and senior counsel to Wisconsin Attorney General Brad D. Schimel from 2015 to 2019.
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.
January 08, 2020
Ann-Marie Luciano and Jawaria Gilani published an article in the January 8 edition of CyberSecurity Law Report setting out practical steps companies can take to reduce the likelihood of a data breach.
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.
October 21, 2019
Bernie Nash, co-chair of the firm’s State Attorneys General Practice, is quoted in a Wall Street Journal article describing the upcoming courtroom showdown between Exxon Mobil Corp. and New York’s Attorney General over how the oil industry accounts for the impact of climate change.
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.
June 03, 2019
Bernie Nash discussed with Corporate Counsel the legal causes that state attorneys general pushed during the month of May.
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 21, 2018
Super Lawyers has named 17 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2018 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list. Twelve were recognized as Super Lawyers and five were named "Rising Stars."
August 22, 2018
One hundred twenty-six Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 20 of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
May 21, 2018
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Chambers USA has recognized 50 Cozen O’Connor attorneys for 2018 as leaders in their respective fields; 12 attorneys were recognized nationally and 14 were ranked in the top band either nationally or at the state level.
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.
January 03, 2018
The Virginia team will be headed by Jerry W. Kilgore, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s State AG practice and former Virginia State Attorney General. Cozen O’Connor’s State AG group is one of the largest and oldest state AG practices in the nation, with a focus on AG-facing investigations, litigation, outreach, and policy.
November 09, 2017
Bernie Nash, co-chair of Cozen O'Connor's State Attorneys General practice, was featured in Brooklyn Law School's alumni notes.