Patterson Belknap Launches State Attorneys General Practice
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP announced today the launch of its State Attorneys General practice, drawing on the Firm’s significant experience representing clients who are the subject of state AG investigations, prosecutions and policymaking. Members of Patterson Belknap’s State Attorneys General practice group bring direct experience working inside state AG offices, as well as in the offices of various U.S. Attorneys.
State attorneys general have become an active and influential presence on the law enforcement landscape, raising the stakes with the increased use of their regulatory and enforcement powers. Patterson Belknap’s State Attorneys General practice seeks opportunities to convince state AGs to forego prosecutions before matters become public, while making it clear that the Firm is prepared to aggressively litigate through trial and appeal, if necessary.
The team is led by Peter C. Harvey, a former New Jersey Attorney General and federal prosecutor, who negotiated the two largest securities settlements in New Jersey in cases involving insider trading and market timing. It also includes four members of the Firm’s White Collar Defense and Investigations group who served as Assistant U.S. Attorneys in New York and New Jersey, members of the Firm’s elite Litigation practice, and members of the Firm’s Tax-Exempt Organizations practice, who have significant experience responding to inquiries by the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and representing clients in investigations by the Bureau.
The team is recognized by Chambers USA for its white collar crime and government investigations experience. According to the 2020 Chambers USA guide, the team is described as “a terrific group with a ton of talented partners and associates… their judgment and experience in white-collar defense and government investigations is unsurpassed – you’d be hard pressed to find a more capable group.” A client praises the team’s "great combination of very strong intellectual ability and extraordinary client service," noting: "They give terrific, practical advice, are very tough when they need to be, and are practical and business-oriented."
Patterson Belknap has successfully represented clients investigated or prosecuted by state attorneys general in numerous industries, including health care, financial services and entertainment, among others, in matters ranging from antitrust and pharmaceutical pricing to False Claims Act and consumer protection issues to data privacy. The Firm also advises technology companies, municipal contracting organizations and tax-exempt organizations.
“The launch of our State Attorneys General practice gives shape to the work that our attorneys have been doing for years,” said Mr. Harvey. “Our practical approach to state AG work focuses on aggressively advocating for our clients, and we are well-equipped to guide them through an array of regulatory enforcement, litigation and compliance matters.”
“The depth of our attorneys’ experience in both state AG offices and U.S. Attorneys’ offices makes us uniquely qualified to tackle these issues head-on, while our significant trial and appellate experience further enhances our credibility in matters involving state AGs,” added Mr. Harvey.