State Attorneys General

Strategic Guidance and Comprehensive Support for Businesses

Kelley Drye offers a uniquely comprehensive approach to client matters involving state attorneys general (AG), backed by a team that includes former senior AG staff and seasoned attorneys with decades of experience. Drawing on our collective experience working with, for, and across the table from state AGs and their staff, we deliver strategic insight, credibility, and practical solutions.

For many years, our attorneys have provided counsel in both individual and multistate investigations and enforcement matters. Members of our team have served in key roles within AG offices, including as heads of consumer protection divisions. This firsthand experience gives our team a deep understanding of the internal dynamics of AG offices, the motivations behind investigations, and the strategies that drive multistate actions.

Our attorneys have handled a wide range of consumer protection issues, including privacy, data security, charitable oversight, pharmaceuticals, negative option marketing, dark patterns, drip pricing, price gouging, and more. While working for AGs, our attorneys addressed thousands of consumer complaints and helped shape enforcement priorities and policy initiatives. Because of this experience, our team knows how to navigate the complexities of AG scrutiny—understanding when and how to engage, who to contact, and how to position our clients effectively. Our team is well-versed in the structure and priorities of AG offices nationwide and brings a nuanced perspective to every matter. Kelley Drye also maintains unique relationships with AG offices as it also represents states throughout the country through its Environmental practice.

Why Kelley Drye?

• Have you been served with a civil investigative demand (CID) or are you facing an AG investigation?
  We have decades of experience issuing CIDs and leading investigations for AG offices. We now use that insight to support businesses navigating these complex inquiries.
• Want to proactively engage with AGs on a policy matter? 
  We have unmatched relationships with AGs and their executive and consumer staff, both from active engagement at AG meetings and years of collaboration as former enforcers.
• Planning an internal compliance review? 
  Our unique enforcement background allows us to anticipate the kinds of issues AGs may scrutinize – helping businesses identify and address potential risks before they become an enforcement issue.

A Powerful Team, Respected by State AGs and Clients Alike

Kelley Drye’s State Attorneys General team is led by Paul Singer, former Chief of the Consumer Protection Division in the Texas Attorney General’s Office, who is nationally ranked for his state AG practice by Chambers USA. The team also includes members who have served state AGs in both the front office and at the staff level.

We understand how AG offices operate—from intake to escalation to resolution. Our relationships with AG personnel and our insight into multistate dynamics make us trusted guides for businesses under scrutiny.

“Paul Singer is a brilliant mouthpiece for his clients in the state AG arena as well as a calming influence.” – Chambers USA

“The depth and breadth of their team is very strong. They all bring significant government enforcement experience to the table.” – Chambers USA

Our Capabilities

• Defending Against State AG Investigations and Enforcement Actions
  We represent a wide array of businesses in both single-state and multistate investigations and enforcement actions initiated by state AGs. Our experience includes defending clients in matters involving pricing, auto-renewals, billing procedures, data collection, and advertising practices, among others.
• Responding to Consumer Complaints and Other Inquiries
  We support businesses in effectively addressing consumer complaints submitted to state AGs, ensuring timely and appropriate responses that align with enforcer expectations. We have also advised clients who have received third-party subpoenas from AG offices, guiding them through the process of document production, confidentiality considerations, and strategic communication. Additionally, we assist companies that are contacted by AG offices for informal inquiries or requests for information, helping them assess potential exposure, prepare responsive materials, and maintain constructive relationships with AG offices. Our experience spans multiple industries, enabling us to tailor our approach to the unique challenges of each sector.
• Advising on Consumer Law Compliance and Risk Management
  We conduct comprehensive reviews of client practices, offering tailored guidance on compliance with state consumer protection laws and regulations. Our team identifies potential areas of legal exposure and offers practical, business-oriented solutions to mitigate risk, including in areas such as advertising and marketing practices, pricing transparency, automatic renewal programs, consumer disclosures, and data privacy. We also assist clients in developing internal compliance protocols, training programs, and monitoring systems to ensure ongoing adherence to evolving legal standards.
• Advocating for Policy Initiatives, Managing Government Relations, and Providing Strategic Counseling
  We engage with state AGs across the country on behalf of clients in industries including pharmaceuticals, consumer finance, construction, technology, retail, and direct selling. We provide strategic counsel on how best to advance business objectives through effective policy advocacy and state government engagement. This includes identifying key stakeholders, crafting persuasive messaging, and navigating the complex legal and political landscape to support our clients’ goals. As members of the Attorney General Alliance, Republican Attorneys General Association, and Democratic Attorneys General Association, and active participants with the National Association of Attorneys General, we are ​“in the know” on key policy developments as they happen and are well-positioned to advocate for our clients.

Resources to Stay Ahead

• State AGs are the primary enforcers of consumer laws within their states and their activities and enforcement actions can have great impact on businesses and consumers. When the officeholder changes, often so do the priorities of the office (even for changes within a party). View our state attorneys general map.
• Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, AG Chronicles, for insights into the latest state attorneys general news.
• Our State Attorneys General Webinar Series features guest speakers from attorney general offices from around the country. Learn more and register.