State Attorney General Practice
Patton Boggs has deep experience with matters involving state attorneys general. We have represented clients in many industries in a wide variety of projects that require the development and implementation of a strategy for working with state attorneys general, both individually and collectively. For almost twenty years we have worked with state attorneys general and their organization, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), their regional organizations such as the Conference of Western Attorneys General (CWAG), and their standing consumer protection, anti-trust, and criminal law committees, as well as various attorneys general task forces.
One of our partners was the only private sector participant invited to make a presentation at the NAAG conference at Harvard University on “The Impact of the Internet and the Role of the State Attorney General.” He also had an opportunity as “special Attorney General” to defend the State of New Mexico in a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation.
We have a long track record of successfully representing clients facing or seeking multi-state action by attorneys general. For example, we represented wireless and satellite television companies involved in a 40-state antitrust case against the cable television industry, and a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical company in matters relating to drug pricing and prescribing practices, including enforcement of state pharmacy rules. We also advised and defended a major toy manufacturer, a major consumer products manufacturer, and a major motion picture studio in separate consumer protection inquiries.
In addition, we represented a television network and a satellite television company in a merger investigation involving a 20-state working group, and represented one of the big three automakers in the recent multi-state inquiry into SUV rollovers and related advertising practices. For several years, Patton Boggs has been representing a number of tobacco companies who have voluntarily joined the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), which involves extensive and complex ongoing work with every state attorney general. We currently represent Indian tribes, private gaming interests, contact lens providers, information technology businesses, health care service providers, and a large provider of student loans in state attorneys general matters.
Our attorneys regularly attend the various NAAG annual meetings and regional meetings of groups such as CWAG, as well as the political arms of the state attorneys Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) and Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) standing committee meetings, including the Consumer Protection, Antitrust, and Tobacco committees of NAAG.