WASHINGTON, D.C., January 28, 2025 — Bernard Nash, a pioneer in state attorneys general (AG) legal practice and widely regarded as one of the most accomplished attorneys of his generation, has announced his retirement as a shareholder at Cozen O’Connor, effective January 31, 2025. Co-founder of the firm’s State Attorneys General Group, Nash has been a legal innovator throughout his career, and is considered by many to be the godfather of the modern state AG legal practice. The leadership transition for the State AG Group started in early 2024 when Nash passed the reins to Jerry Kilgore. In July 2024, Dustin McDaniel joined Kilgore as co-chair, assuring continuity and momentum for the AG Group.
Reflecting on his retirement, Nash shared, "Working alongside such talented and dedicated professionals at Cozen O’Connor has been an honor. As I retire, I look back with pride on what we've achieved together. I am confident that this practice will continue to thrive and innovate under Jerry and Dustin’s leadership. I am particularly grateful to Michael Heller, Executive Chairman and CEO of Cozen O’Connor, for having confidence in our vision and for his generous support of the State AG Group.”
In the late 1970s, Nash recognized that seismic shifts in law and regulation would lead to a boom in state AG power — and he was the first to dedicate his legal practice to state AG-related work. As counsel to the Senate Antitrust and Monopoly Subcommittee, Nash drafted the historic Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act (which the National Journal dubbed the Nash Act) that modernized federal merger antitrust enforcement and gave state attorneys general standing to bring antitrust cases in federal court. Launching his own firm in 1977, he focused on the intersection of law, policy, and politics. Demand was high, and he achieved notable early successes, mobilizing 32 state AGs to oppose a joint venture by movie companies seeking to shut down a then-nascent HBO, winning a $2 billion settlement for state clients against major oil companies, and drafting the Patent Term Restoration Act for pharmaceutical company clients.
“Under Bernie’s leadership, our State AG Group has grown to the premier practice in the United States,” said Michael Heller. “With Jerry and Dustin at the helm, we will continue to invest strongly in this practice as the authority of state attorneys general and their enforcement powers impacts businesses nationwide to an ever-increasing extent.”
An astute entrepreneur, Nash joined Dickstein Shapiro in 1988 to leverage the resources and reach of its AmLaw 100 platform. In 2015, Nash and his then co-chair Lori Kalani brought their State AG Group to Cozen O’Connor, solidifying its first-in-class status. Over the years Nash represented an impressive roster of blue-chip clients including AT&T, HBO, Mastercard, Palo Alto, Pfizer, Time, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Walmart in navigating some of the most consequential state AG matters in the nation.
Kilgore, co-chair of the State AG Group, said “We are thrilled to continue the evolution of our preeminent State Attorneys General Group. With the talented attorneys we’ve added in the last several years and the firm’s full support, our practice and ability to expertly navigate the complexities of state AG investigations alongside our clients has never been stronger.”
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents.
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