Christopher Carlson

Chris draws upon his firsthand experience as an assistant attorney general to advise clients a wide variety of state, federal, and local regulatory matters, including investigations and enforcement actions. He is particularly experienced with state and federal consumer protection laws related to consumer financial services, data security, advertising and marketing, manufacturing, and digital currency. These complex cases often present novel issues regarding the scope of state statutory authority.

Chris handles multifaceted investigations, inquiries, and other regulatory and compliance matters involving state and federal agencies. His work includes managing significant multistate investigations and litigation brought by state attorneys general and federal agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Chris also assists clients at the local level, representing clients in local government litigation and before state commissions, handling disputes with local school divisions and constitutional challenges to proposed administrative rules.

Chris represents clients and the firm at national state attorneys general meetings and conferences, presenting critical issues to attorneys general and their staff, regulators, and other key personnel. He also regularly provides ongoing commentary and analysis on developments in the state and federal regulatory landscape through the firm’s Regulatory Oversight blog and State Attorneys General Monitor Newsletter.

Before joining the firm, Chris served as an assistant attorney general in the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the West Virginia Attorney General, where he litigated consumer protection actions involving state and federal laws prohibiting unfair or deceptive business practices related to debt collection, pharmaceuticals, motor vehicles, landlord-tenant issues, and student loans. His experience handling multistate litigations and settlements, adapting to evolving regulations, and handling complex arguments on the government’s behalf has laid the foundation for Chris’ ability to advise clients confidently and effectively.

• Represented a financial services company in litigation involving novel issues of statutory interpretation resulting in both a successful resolution and the Virginia General Assembly’s passage of legislation to clarify the relevant statute.
• Represented a company in a state attorney general investigation regarding data privacy and retention policies resulting in the successful closure of the investigation without further action.
• Representing a medical device company in pending litigation brought by a state attorney general where the court granted partial dismissal of the state’s claims.
• Representing a financial services company in a first-of-its-kind action where the state attorney general seeks to apply its credit services organization statute to a loan finder on behalf of another financial institution.
• Representing a financial services company in pending state attorney general and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigation, including challenging jurisdictional authority to take enforcement to take action.
• Represented numerous companies in multistate attorneys general investigations and litigations of various industries – including financial services, pharmaceuticals, automobile manufacturers, tobacco/nicotine, and startups – resulting in nationwide settlements.
• Co-authored a Supreme Court amicus brief in support of a certiorari petition by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi (BMS/Sanofi) challenging the Hawaii Attorney General’s verdict against both companies.
• Counseled the Virginia Bankers Association in a first-of-its-kind petition Virginia State Corporation Commission, successfully challenging an effort by a credit union to expand its fields of membership and establishing the precedent that will require credit unions to conduct appropriate due diligence into whether another group can create its own credit union before joining an existing credit union.
• Counseled the Virginia Healthcare and Hospital Association in an action before Virginia State Corporation Commission successfully challenging the statutory basis for proposed rules by the Bureau of Insurance.
• Collaborated with the Federal Trade Commission in a joint multistate settlement with state attorneys general concerning a peer-to-peer money transfer company.

• Legal 500 United States: Government: State Attorneys General (2024-2025)
• Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Administrative / Regulatory Law (2023-2026)
• Virginia Lawyers Weekly: “Up & Coming Lawyer” (2022)
• American Bar Association Section of State and Local Government: Jefferson B. Fordham Up & Comer Award (2021)