Cozen O’Connor is delighted to announce the appointment of Jerry Kilgore as co-chair of its nation-leading state attorneys general practice. Kilgore, who served as Virginia’s attorney general from 2002 to 2005 and as the state’s secretary of public safety, will lead the practice alongside co-chair Lori Kalani. With Kilgore’s promotion to co-chair, current co-chair Bernie Nash will continue to lend his experience gained in almost 50 years of advising clients on state attorneys general matters as a member and co-founder of the Cozen O’Connor State Attorneys General Group.
“I am thrilled to have Jerry join me in leading our practice. The deep respect with which he is regarded by state attorneys general and our clients, as well as his ability to navigate complex, high-stakes negotiations related to AG investigations, make him the ideal partner to take on the co-chair role,” said Kalani.
Nash added, “It gives me great satisfaction to hand over the reins to Jerry in partnership with Lori. In the many years we have worked together, Jerry has continually impressed me with his ability to develop innovative and highly strategic solutions that help our clients resolve issues while continuing to advance their business interests. As state AGs exert ever-increasing power and influence over businesses, Lori and Jerry’s leadership will ensure that our practice remains the first choice for businesses facing state AG litigation or investigations.”
Kilgore stated, “I have enjoyed working alongside Lori and Bernie – the best of the best in the state AG field. I am humbled at the opportunity to co-chair such a nationally acclaimed practice with Lori.”
Kilgore joined Cozen O’Connor in 2017 and has a well-deserved reputation as a trusted legal and policy adviser on both sides of the aisle through his engagement at the local, state, and federal levels. Jerry advises clients — including Fortune 500 companies, market disrupters, and trade associations — in connection with state AG investigations, and the interplay with attorneys general and public policy. He is also a seasoned litigator with significant experience handling AG multistate actions. In recent years, Kilgore has focused his practice on businesses in higher education (including for-profit colleges and universities), telecom and cable, health care, cannabis, energy, banking, and hospitality. He also has significant experience in the fintech arena, particularly with respect to products and platforms directed toward consumers, such as payment and loan technologies.