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Strategies helps businesses and individuals solve the complexities of dealing with the government at every level. Our team of specialists concentrate exclusively on government affairs, representing clients nationwide who need assistance with public policy, advocacy, and government relations strategies.
This unique program provides innovative and affordable opportunities to startups and early-stage emerging companies with a solid technology or scientific foundation. We help companies that have a quality management team in place and do not have other significant legal representation.
eMerge’s lawyers and technologists work together to deliver strategic end-to-end eDiscovery and data management solutions for litigation, investigations, due diligence, and compliance matters. We help clients discover the information necessary to resolve disputes, respond to investigations, conduct due diligence, and comply with legal requirements.
Stay ahead of the curve and in touch with our latest thinking on the issues that are top of mind across our practices and industry sectors.
Change happens fast in today’s turbulent world. Stay on top of the latest with our industry-specific channels.
Take a closer look at how we partner with clients to help them realize their goals.
Articles + Publications August 14, 2025
State attorneys general increasingly impact businesses in all industries. Our nationally recognized state AG team has been trusted by clients for more than 20 years to navigate their most complicated state AG investigations and enforcement actions.
State Attorneys General Monitor analyzes regulatory actions by state AGs and other state administrative agencies throughout the nation. Contributors to this newsletter and related blog include attorneys experienced in regulatory enforcement, litigation, and compliance. Also visit our State Attorneys General Monitor microsite.
Contact our State AG Team at StateAG@troutman.com.
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team
Register Here
Wednesday, August 20 • 1:00 – 3:10 p.m. ET
Members of Troutman Pepper Locke’s State Attorneys General (AG) team, Ashley Taylor, Clayton Friedman, and Namrata Kang, will participate in an upcoming CLE with myLawCLE for an in-depth exploration of AG investigations. This presentation will focus on multistate actions, recent trends, and emerging regulatory challenges. With decades of experience in both single and multistate AG investigations, the panelists will provide essential tools to help you effectively manage these complex processes.
By Ashley L. Taylor, Jr., Clayton Friedman, Michael Yaghi, Natalia Jacobo, and Warren F. “Jay” Myers
Ashley Taylor, Clayton Friedman, Michael Yaghi, Natalia Jacobo, and Jay Myers of Troutman Pepper Locke LLP discuss stepped up enforcement efforts among state attorneys general in the face of the Trump administration’s broad deregulatory agenda and as federal agencies appear to shift litigation priorities.
By Laura Hamady, Jeff Johnson, Jessica Birdsong, and Chris Carlson
This article was originally published on August 4, 2025 on Law360 and is republished here with permission.
The digital age presents a complex challenge: protecting children online while also allowing free speech to continue to be a thriving marketplace of ideas.
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team, Jean Smith-Gonnell, and Cole White
In July 2025, a bipartisan coalition of 32 state and territorial attorneys general (AG) sent a letter to congressional leaders urging the passage of the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act. Their letter emphasizes that the legislation — a long-stalled federal reform — would provide legal clarity and a safe harbor for banks and financial institutions to serve state-licensed cannabis businesses. Such clarity, they argue, is urgently needed to address public safety risks and to improve the states’ ability to regulate and tax the booming cannabis industry.
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team and Timothy Shyu
What Happened
On July 16, 49 attorneys general (AGs) announced that they joined a $202 million settlement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead). Previously announced by the Department of Justice in April, the settlement resolved allegations that the company incentivized doctors to prescribe its medication through HIV speaker programs.
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team, Matthew Cali, and Daniel Waltz
On July 28, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs issued a reminder to more than 3,000 auto dealerships regarding their obligations under the New Jersey data deletion law, N.J.S.A. § 56:12-18.1. This law, enacted and effective in January 2024, requires dealerships to offer data deletion services for consumer information stored in vehicles accepted for resale or lease. Dealerships are now on notice of their compliance obligations under the law.
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team, Angelo A. Stio III, Laura Hamady, Esther Kye, and Kyara Rivera Rivera
On April 29, Michigan Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit against Roku, Inc. (Roku), the smart TV and device provider and streaming service, alleging Roku violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), federal and state privacy laws, the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, and other laws by collecting children’s personal data and selling it without proper parental consent. The lawsuit sought damages and equitable relief on behalf of Michigan consumers who subscribed to Roku’s streaming service. More information regarding this lawsuit can be found here.
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team, Gene Fishel, and Nick Gouverneur
On July 23, President Trump announced efforts to position the U.S. at the forefront of the global artificial intelligence (AI) race. “Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan” details how the federal government will advance the AI industry and was issued pursuant to the president’s January 23 Executive Order (EO) 14179, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence.”
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team and Blake Christopher
Colorado Attorney General (AG) Phil Weiser has sued PetSmart LLC, alleging that its use of Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs) violates state consumer protection and labor laws. The lawsuit reflects a broader effort by Weiser and other state AGs to combat purportedly exploitive employment agreements.
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team and Timothy Shyu
What Happened
On July 28, Florida Attorney General (AG) James Uthmeier announced investigations into two environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scoring organizations for potential violations of state consumer protection and antitrust laws. This investigation is consistent with a continuing trend among Republican AGs to scrutinize entities directly and indirectly involved in encouraging ESG-based initiatives. For example, in the last three years, Republican AGs have targeted the Net-Zero Banking Alliance and the Net-Zero Asset Managers over antitrust and fiduciary duty concerns related to ESG. Membership in both organizations dwindled as a result.
John Formella was sworn in as New Hampshire’s AG on April 22, 2021, following his nomination by Governor Chris Sununu and confirmation by the Executive Council. As AG, Formella serves as the state’s chief law enforcement officer, chief prosecutor, and chief legal officer.
Before this role, Formella was Sununu’s legal counsel, advising on significant legal issues and litigation affecting New Hampshire, including health care settlements, the opioid crisis response, criminal justice reform, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He began his legal career in private practice at Pierce Atwood LLP, focusing on business and environmental law.
Formella is active in the community, having served on the Zoning Board of Adjustment for Portsmouth and as a board member of McGregor Memorial EMS in Durham. In 2019, he was recognized as one of New Hampshire’s “40 Under Forty” and one of the “10 to Watch” young professionals in the Seacoast region.
He is a Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude graduate of Florida State University and graduated with honors from George Washington University Law School, where he contributed to the International Law Review.
New Hampshire AG in the News:
For more on upcoming AG Events, click here.
Troutman Pepper Locke’s State Attorneys General team combines legal acumen and government experience to develop comprehensive, thoughtful strategies for clients. Our attorneys handle individual and multistate AG investigations, proactive counseling and litigation, and manage ancillary regulatory issues. Our successful approach has been recognized by Chambers USA, which ranked our practice as a leader in the industry.
Our Cannabis Practice provides advice on issues related to applicable federal and state law. Marijuana remains an illegal controlled substance under federal law.
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ON24
Leading the energy evolution.
Learn more
From compliance to the courtroom, we have you covered.
Learn more
Helping you focus on what matters – improving human health.
Learn more
Trusted advisors to leading insurers for 100+ years.
Learn more
Unlocking value in the middle market and beyond.
Learn more
Full-service legal advice from coast to coast.
Learn more
Applying radical applications of common sense
Explore More
Our standard-setting client experience program.
Explore more
Delivering life-changing help to those most in need.
Explore More
Our firm’s greatest asset is our people.
Explore More
Market-leading eDiscovery and data management services.
Explore more
The Pepper Center for Public Services
Explore more
Strategies helps businesses and individuals solve the complexities of dealing with the government at every level. Our team of specialists concentrate exclusively on government affairs, representing clients nationwide who need assistance with public policy, advocacy, and government relations strategies.
This unique program provides innovative and affordable opportunities to startups and early-stage emerging companies with a solid technology or scientific foundation. We help companies that have a quality management team in place and do not have other significant legal representation.
eMerge’s lawyers and technologists work together to deliver strategic end-to-end eDiscovery and data management solutions for litigation, investigations, due diligence, and compliance matters. We help clients discover the information necessary to resolve disputes, respond to investigations, conduct due diligence, and comply with legal requirements.
Stay ahead of the curve and in touch with our latest thinking on the issues that are top of mind across our practices and industry sectors.
Change happens fast in today’s turbulent world. Stay on top of the latest with our industry-specific channels.
Take a closer look at how we partner with clients to help them realize their goals.
Enhance your search results with the following special search methods. These tools allow you to fine-tune what data is returned and how it’s matched.
Use quotation marks to search for an exact phrase or sequence of words:
Example:
"Marketing manager in London"
This will return results that match exactly what’s inside the quotes — word-for-word and in order.
If there are no exact matches, the system will fall back to your default search query (which can be configured separately).
Use the pipe symbol (|) to search for any of the listed terms:
Example:
Marketing manager | Sales manager | Business manager
This will return any result that matches at least one of the terms. If only one term matches, only that result is shown. If multiple match, all are returned.
Use the dash (-) to exclude specific words from the search results:
Examples:
Marketing manager -indeed.com
Houses in London -zoopla -terraced
This tells the search engine to omit any result that includes the excluded words (e.g., no listings from Zoopla or containing "terraced").
Use this method when no other matching methods succeed.
Example:
%economy in 2025 snp stocks%
This functions like a SQL LIKE query — it's a broad, fuzzy match that tries to find results containing the key terms anywhere in the content. It's often used as a final fallback option.
Use the ampersand (&) to ensure all terms are included in the results:
Example:
Sales & Marketing & London
Only results that contain all three keywords — “Sales”, “Marketing”, and “London” — will be returned.
Even if a page is titled “Sales & Marketing”, it will still be included, as long as all keywords are present somewhere in the content.
Use these search operators to narrow or broaden your results as needed. They can be combined and layered for even more control.
