Washington, D.C., May 5, 2015 — On the heels of its recent announcement of the addition of 60 lawyers in Chicago, Cozen O’Connor is proud to announce the addition of 10 attorneys and government professionals and the formation of the firm’s State Attorneys General Practice.
The new additions include members Bernie Nash, Lori Kalani, JB Kelly and Milton Marquis — all of whom were formerly partners at Dickstein Shapiro. As leaders of the nation’s leading State Attorneys General Practice, they focus on legal and policy matters and investigations brought by state attorneys general across the country. Additional members of the practice include Maria Colsey Heard, Ann-Marie Luciano and Chris Allen, all of whom are members; associate Bryan Mosca; Senior Adviser Chris Tampio; and AG Policy Coordinator Emily Lundahl.
Nash and Kalani will co-chair the practice.
“With the addition of the State Attorneys General Practice, Cozen O’Connor expands our depth and ability to advise clients on some of the most critical government investigations and regulatory issues impacting our clients’ businesses,” said Michael J. Heller, president and chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor. “With Bernie, Lori, JB and Milton and their team, we further strengthen our abilities to provide unique depth and insight in areas that touch every state.”
Cozen O'Connor’s State Attorneys General Practice is further bolstered by the addition of Blake Rutherford, the former chief of staff to the Arkansas and Pennsylvania attorneys general. Rutherford, an Arkansas native, recently joined Cozen O'Connor and will work closely with the State Attorneys General Practice.
“State Attorneys General across the country are examining emerging issues, increasingly filing qui tam cases, and investigating business practices relating to antitrust, consumer protection, data privacy, and the environment," Heller added. “Our practice represents clients in AG investigations and litigation, and counsels clients on the multitude of AG-related legal and policy matters based upon decades of experience working with AGs across the country.”
This new practice further bolsters Cozen O’Connor’s presence in Washington, D.C. With the addition of the State Attorneys General Practice, the firm has more than 55 attorneys and government relations professionals in its Washington, D.C., office.
“Cozen O’Connor lawyers are known across the country for their deep investigatory and litigation skills and knowledge, and for assisting clients with regulatory and governmental issues,” said Nash. “While Dickstein Shapiro is an excellent firm and we will miss our colleagues, we are excited to be part of the Cozen O'Connor team.”
Kalani added that the group is delighted to bring its practice to Cozen O’Connor. “The firm has exceptional litigation, transactional and regulatory attorneys across its 23 offices, providing a national footprint to complement our national practice."
Before joining Cozen O’Connor, Nash headed the leading State Attorneys General Practice. Before entering private practice, Nash served as trial attorney and special counsel for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and counsel for the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly.
Kalani formed a State Attorneys General practice at a major law firm before merging that practice with Nash. Before entering private practice, Kalani served as senior corporate counsel and director of government affairs for DISH Network, a Fortune 200 company and national pay-television provider.
Kelly has spent 20 years in the public sector working with state attorneys general, as well as in private practice. From 2001-2012, he served as general counsel to North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, overseeing major litigation involving North Carolina.
Before entering private practice, Marquis served in both state and federal government for 14 years, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the offices of the attorneys general of Virginia and Massachusetts.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has 575 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 23 offices across two continents.
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