State Attorneys General Investigations & Litigation
As state attorneys general move to fill the gaps (actual and perceived) in federal enforcement, experienced counsel makes all the difference in achieving the best outcomes. By leveraging our renowned regulatory and government investigation talent and deep bench of False Claims Act, class action, and other litigators, Arnold & Porter’s State Attorneys General Investigations & Litigation attorneys have deep experience in favorably, and often quietly, resolving numerous significant single-state and multi-state investigations and cases for our clients, as well as aggressively litigating in state court when necessary. Having forged significant relationships with many state attorneys general, we help clients proactively identify issues, provide guidance to avoid inquiries and litigation, anticipate where investigators may focus their efforts, and devise effective measures to limit our clients’ exposure.
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Deep Government Connections: Having sat on both sides of the “v,” we know how state attorneys general think and what drives their decision-making. Our attorneys have practiced at every level of local, state, and federal government, developed relationships within every large state’s attorney general’s office, and can help clients navigate the complicated waters and turf wars that can arise in multi-district litigation.
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Renowned Regulatory Experience: By integrating our leading regulatory practices, including our life sciences, healthcare, product liability, consumer protection, financial services, environmental, and privacy practices, among others, we offer our clients creative, effective solutions.
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Industry Knowledge: Our state attorneys general cases have involved automotive, chemicals, consumer products and retail, energy, financial services, food and beverage, healthcare, industrial products, pharmaceuticals, technology, and transportation industries.
Experience Highlights
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Eli Lilly and Company in a Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention suit filed by the Texas AG’s office. The suit alleges violations of state law based on the purported offering of nurse educator and reimbursement support services for various Lilly medications.
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BP in over a dozen novel climate change lawsuits filed by state and local governments in California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Washington, and by a fishermen’s trade association.
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Philip Morris in consumer fraud and nuisance lawsuits over evapor products against state AGs in Alaska, Hawaii, Minnesota, and New Mexico, and litigating and arbitrating against, and working with, state AGs in all 50 states for over 25 years with respect to various disputes and other issues arising under the Master Settlement Agreement.
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Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi in coordinating investigations and litigation brought by state attorneys general, including the Hawaii State Attorney General, DOJ, and various U.S. Attorney’s Offices, MFCU representatives, and private qui tam relators regarding the companies’ marketing of the drug Plavix®.
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National oil and gas company in its successful defense against lead pigment public nuisance suits brought by the Rhode Island Attorney General, Ohio Attorney General, and numerous cities and counties in California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Ohio. Disposed of hundreds of cases by motion and prevailed in the four cases tried to verdict.
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Dunkin' Brands in investigation, litigation, and favorable settlement of a New York Attorney General’s lawsuit alleging the failure to protect consumer data security and privacy.
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American financial services company in New York Attorney General investigation regarding business and advertising practices.
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Global pharmaceutical manufacturers in non-public antitrust investigation by the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
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Discount retailer in an investigation by the New York Attorney General’s Office and concurrent litigation concerning lead contamination in certain food products.
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Funder for a merchant cash advance company in an investigation conducted by the New York Attorney General’s Office.
Key Contacts
Related Services
- White Collar Defense & Investigations
- Commercial Litigation
- Consumer Protection & Advertising
- Antitrust/Competition
- Crisis Management & Strategic Response
- Environmental Enforcement & Toxic Tort Litigation
- False Claims Act Investigations & Defense
- Financial Services
- Privacy, Cybersecurity & Data Strategy
- Product Liability Litigation
- Securities Enforcement & Litigation
Recognition
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Chambers USAAntitrust (Nationwide, Washington, D.C., New York) (2025)
Antitrust: Cartel (Nationwide) (2025)
Corporate Crime & Investigations: The Elite (Nationwide) (2025)
False Claims Act (Nationwide) - Band 1 (2025)
Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Enforcement & Investigations) (Nationwide) (2025)
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Washington, D.C., New Jersey) (2025)
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations: The Elite (New York) (2025)
Litigation: General Commercial: (Colorado, Illinois, Texas: Houston & Surrounds) (2025)
Litigation: General Commercial: Highly Regarded (California, New York) (2025)
Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite (Washington, D.C.) (2025)
Product Liability: Regulatory (Nationwide) (2025)
Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite (Nationwide) (2025) -
BTI Consulting GroupIntimidating Opponent in Litigation (2025)
Complex Commercial Litigation Powerhouses (2024)
Most Feared in Litigation (2024) -
Benchmark LitigationWhite-Collar Crime (2024)
Dispute Resolution — California; District of Columbia; New York (2024) -
FT Innovative Lawyers“Standout”—North America (2023)
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Law360"Appellate Practice Group of the Year" (2023)
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The Legal 500 USAppellate: Courts of Appeals (2025)
Appellate: Supreme Courts (states and federal) (2025)
Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Corporates (2025)
Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals (2025)
General Commercial Disputes (2025) -
U.S. News & World Report and Best LawyersBet-the-Company Litigation—Chicago, Colorado, San Francisco (2024)
Criminal Defense: White Collar—National, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, New York (2024)
Securities Regulation—Washington, D.C., National (2024)
Environmental Litigation – National, New York, Washington, D.C. (2024)
Regulatory Enforcement Litigation – SEC, Telecom, Energy (2024)
Litigation: Securities—Washington, D.C., National (2024) -
LMG Life Sciences GuideWhite Collar/Government Investigations (2024)
Non-IP Litigation & Enforcement: White-Collar/Government Investigations (2023)
