State Attorneys General Investigations & Enforcement
Trusted Counsel in High-Stakes AG Matters
Benesch represents companies, trade associations, executives, nonprofits and other organizations in sensitive, high-stakes investigations, enforcement actions, regulatory matters and litigation brought by state attorneys general across the U.S.
Overview
We Know How AGs Think and Operate
Our team includes:
- Former state assistant attorneys general and other senior advisors to AGs
- Former federal prosecutors from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation who worked jointly with state attorneys general
- Former government counsel to state agencies and governors’ offices
- Lobbyists with extensive experience advocating for clients before state and local governments
As many of our lawyers have served inside AG’s offices, we know how AGs think, how they operate and how they investigate. With bipartisan credibility and relationships across all 56 AG’s offices, we see around corners, readily anticipate AG actions and often learn about enforcement priorities before public moves are made. Our lawyers navigate political dynamics to help clients resolve inquiries swiftly, discreetly, favorably and cost-effectively. We also stand poised to mount a robust and strategic defense staffed by trial lawyers who are former assistant attorneys general should litigation arise.
Tough. Tactical. Trusted.
From civil investigative demands to criminal grand jury investigations and full-blown multistate litigation, our lawyers have achieved winning results for Fortune 500 companies, senior executives and boards of directors in a wide spectrum of matters.
Proactive. Pragmatic. Proven.
AG investigations are often crisis-driven and wide-reaching, involving multistate coalitions and joint actions with federal agencies. We help clients manage these challenges by:
- Anticipating AG scrutiny and providing proactive compliance and risk mitigation counsel
- Responding quickly to civil investigative demands (CIDs) and subpoenas
- Negotiating with AG’s offices to narrow or resolve investigations before litigation ensues
- Vigorously defending clients through trial in consumer protection, antitrust, data privacy, cybersecurity, labor, environmental, and public health enforcement actions
- Offering crisis management counsel, coordinating public relations efforts and providing board-level guidance
We regularly advise and defend clients in AG-related matters involving:
- White Collar Criminal Defense: Defend against grand jury investigations and criminal litigation brought by state AGs against corporations, boards and executives.s facing allegations of negligence, breach of professional duty and misrepresentation in audit and non-audit services.
- Antitrust & Competition: Multistate inquiries into pricing, monopolization, mergers and acquisitions.
- Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) & Subpoenas: Rapid response, privilege and Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) protection, and negotiations with AGs.
- Consumer Protection & False Advertising: Investigations into sales practices, deceptive trade and unfair competition.
- Crisis Management & Policy Strategy: Coordinating litigation defense with public relations, board oversight and legislative strategy.
- Data Privacy & Cybersecurity: Breach notification compliance, data handling and consumer data protection.
- Environmental & Public Health Enforcement: Hazardous waste, emissions, climate, PFAS and health crises.
- False Claims & Whistleblower Actions: Healthcare, financial and government contracting matters.
- Healthcare Sector: Regulatory advice, investigations and enforcement actions, fraud/deceptive practices, consumer protection, unfair competition allegations, and navigating state AG notice and approval processes for M&A.
- Industry Sweeps: Sector-wide investigations and compliance reviews.
- Labor & Employment Matters: Wage and hour disputes, worker misclassification, and workplace safety, privacy, and other protections.
Related Practices
Our work in action
Representative Examples
Served as lead counsel for a major life science manufacturer,
representing client in individual investigations and litigation brought by Attorneys General in Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico and Pennsylvania alleging violation of state false advertising statutes.
Represented a medical practice in a Department of Justice federal criminal investigation
involving the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and state investigations involving the Ohio Attorney General Health Care Fraud Unit and subsequently representing a business in production and interviews related to a secondary criminal investigation involving a former employee.
Defended a nonprofit organization through a threatened investigation of its CEO by the California DOJ,
including a whistleblower complaint alleging financial malfeasance. Resolved the matter with no press, financial penalties or admission of liability.*
Defended a crypto stable coin client against a broad investigation by the Massachusetts AG
into marketing practices and whether coin became unpegged from the U.S. dollar.*
Defended a fuel supplier in a price-gouging probe by the New York AG
involving an industry sweep of energy providers.*
Represented ComEd in litigating a request for regulatory approval of its first-ever multiyear integrated grid plan, and a corresponding multiyear rate plan.
Together, the plans detail every dollar the company plans to invest in providing electric delivery service over the next four years. In addition to ComEd, the case involved 12 parties. A total of 61 expert witnesses offered testimony, including 17 witnesses on behalf of ComEd. The Illinois Commerce Commission approved a $595 million increase in ComEd’s revenue requirement and a $3.57 billion increase in rate base over the four-year period.
Represented a client in individual and multistate investigations
brought by over 20 attorneys general and litigation concerning alleged Truth in Lending Act (TILA) violations for facilitating loans between lenders and solar installers. Actively litigated against the Minnesota AG in state and federal courts.*
*Matter completed prior to joining Benesch
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