The role of state attorneys general (AGs) has taken on heightened importance in recent years, primarily due to shifts in federal enforcement strategies. As the federal government has pulled back on certain fronts, particularly during the Trump administration, attention has increasingly turned to the activities of state AGs, who have been looking to fill these enforcement gaps. This shift has provided opportunities for legal practitioners specializing in helping clients navigate state-level scrutiny.
Karl Racine, former Attorney General for the District of Columbia, and Jason Downs, his former chief deputy, are at the forefront of this trend. Now both partners at the law firm Hogan Lovells, they are building their practice to focus on areas where state AGs are becoming more active. In a discussion with Bloomberg Law, featured on the podcast On The Merits, Racine and Downs elaborate on the enforcement areas that have taken precedence among state AGs. Among these, cryptocurrency regulations, environmental protections, consumer financial protection, and artificial intelligence (AI) stand out as particularly significant.
Racine and Downs emphasize that state AGs have been prioritizing these areas to address emerging challenges and protect public interests effectively. The growing focus on AI, in particular, is noteworthy given the rapid technological advancements and their potential implications for privacy and discrimination issues.
These trends suggest a shifting landscape in legal practice that corporations and legal professionals must closely monitor. The increased involvement of state AGs in such critical areas underscores the importance of understanding and responding to state-level regulatory environments.
The complete insights from the discussion with Racine and Downs can be found in the article by Bloomberg Law.