State Attorneys General
The international reputation of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) in law and government affairs is a result of the 2002 merger of two noted and complementary firms, and the further addition of strategic practices across the country. The Washington office of MLA traces its roots to 1939, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Attorney General, Homer Stille Cummings, returned to private law practice to form his own firm. Since that time, our firm has performed ground-breaking work for clients around the world by providing a unique blend of counseling and litigation services that demonstrate our experience in both business and government. We meld sophisticated legal, business, and government acumen and insight into our clients’ industries and businesses with an approach to client service that emphasizes effectiveness and value.
A Comprehensive Approach
Our State Attorneys General Practice is unique among firms, set apart by a nation-wide orientation and full service in-house capability for representing clients. In recognition of the increasingly prominent role State Attorneys General offices play across the nation in affecting federal and state and local public policy and regulatory affairs, we dedicate top-level firm resources to this stand-alone practice, providing clients with a comprehensive suite of legal and public policy services characterized by:
A National Approach
With offices and networks spanning the country, we assist clients from California to New York to Georgia and provide insight and access to State Attorneys General offices and key influential national organizations, including the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA), Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), and Conference of Western Attorneys General (CWAG). Our national presence, perspective, and resources keeps our finger on the pulse in all 50 states, ensuring clients are kept current and have a seat at the table wherever and whenever policies are being developed, debated, or resolved.
Full Spectrum of Service
With a keen understanding of the critical nature of engaging State Attorneys General at all levels, whether legal, public policy, or both, our litigation attorneys and government affairs professionals work together with clients in all substantive areas to ensure a comprehensive approach to solving problems.
Depth & Breadth
Led by former State Attorney General and past President of the National Association of Attorneys General Thurbert Baker and comprised of former State Deputy, Deputy Associate, Assistant, and State-Appointed Special Attorneys General and multiple attorneys and government affairs professionals, the practice provides clients with an insider perspective and unique insight, combining practical and academic knowledge to develop creative solutions for complicated issues.
What We Do
We assist clients throughout the country in integrating Attorneys General (AG) strategies into their overall governmental affairs and legal operations. We help clients develop short and long-term approaches focused on relationship building and lobbying State AGs with an eye towards problem containment and implementation of client objectives. Given the close relationship between federal regulators including but not limited to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and State AGs, we assist our clients at both levels of government.
Our team provides clients with an insider perspective and unique insight, combining practical and academic knowledge to develop creative solutions for complicated issues, including, complex litigation matters, privacy and information security concerns, and consumer protection issues. While the group is proactive and attempts to resolve investigations before they result in actual litigation, the group has formidable experience litigating these matters as well.
Supporting Practice Areas
National Government Affairs
Public policy issues frequently extend across local and state borders and quickly become national in scope. When an issue of concern arises in multiple jurisdictions or legislative trends emerge, MLA develops and manages nation-wide government affairs efforts. Our clients range from multinational corporations to nonprofit organizations. With MLA’s oversight, our clients are able to ensure the delivery of a coordinated message consistent across the U.S., yet tailored to targeted geographic locations. Ranked as one of the top ten lobbying firms by Legal Times, the MLA government affairs team is considered a leader in government advocacy.
Services provided by our National Government Affairs team include:
- Management of government affairs professionals across the U.S.
- Nation-wide legislative tracking
- Political intelligence
- Direct advocacy in key markets
- Visibility and relationship building in new markets
- Exploration of federal opportunities
Our National Government Affairs team includes former elected and appointed officials and their advisors from across the U.S., including former Governors and Members of Congress who understand how to impact policy and public opinion locally, while mindful of broader national objectives. MLA’s established national presence helps us to closely monitor issues of concern to clients and maintain strong relationships with multiple states, including AG offices as well as local governments and legislatures. Our national government affairs practitioners are located in offices throughout the U.S. and our network extends to every jurisdiction where our clients have pressing needs.
Complex Litigation
What sets MLA apart from typical firms that handle complex litigation is our unique blend of legal, governmental, and business experiences. Drawing on our extensive experience with complex and high-profile litigation and working across traditional practice area lines, MLA provides comprehensive skills to ensure we achieve our clients’ objectives both in the courtroom and in the public arena, as appropriate. Our lawyers are accomplished advocates, and we are proud of the results obtained in trials, appeals, and arbitration hearings. In addition, working with other members of the AG team, we are also well-known for assisting clients to avoid litigation and in finding creative solutions that avert protracted legal proceedings.
Privacy and Information Security
Privacy issues are a major focus of Congress, federal, state, and local government agencies, AGs, industry, consumers, and the media. The rules change rapidly, whether looming comprehensive federal legislation an evolving collection of federal and state laws, regulations, and guidance and ever-expanding industry association requirements and guidelines. MLA is at the forefront of this evolving area of law at the federal as well as state level. We counsel clients on privacy and security laws governing the collection, use, and protection of personal information and on managing risks and reducing exposure to investigations and litigation arising from how companies handle personal data.
Consumer Protection
MLA has provided consumer products and services clients with high quality risk reduction counseling, effective guidance in connection with federal and state regulatory investigations, and vigorous representation in consumer and competitor litigation matters. MLA attorneys are extensively experienced in defending litigation brought under consumer protection laws such as the Consumer Legal Remedies Act and others. MLA’s breadth of experience allows our attorneys to evaluate the relative benefits among a wide variety of options, including: seeking alternative litigation coordination techniques to leverage favorable rulings in multiple cases and avoid duplicative discovery; negotiating settlements to avoid litigation risks and costs; and, when necessary, trying cases to conclusion.