Paul W. Connell joins legislation business Cozen O’Connor in Chicago

Paul W. Connell has joined Cozen O’Connor as a member of the Point out Attorneys Normal Group. He will operate out of the firm’s Chicago and Washington, D.C. offices.

Connell served as deputy legal professional typical and senior counsel to Wisconsin Attorney Common Brad D. Schimel from 2015 to 2019. In that situation, he directed authorized technique in all the state’s significant multistate buyer safety instances and encouraged point out organizations and the Office of Governor. As the principal lawful adviser to Attorney Typical Schimel, Connell formulated and executed significant coverage initiatives that profoundly and positively impacted all areas of the state financial system.

An knowledgeable trial attorney, strategic adviser, and skillful negotiator adept at navigating the complex point out AG setting, Connell has been at the forefront of foremost corporate responses to multistate enforcement actions and investigations. His exercise encompasses matters involving state attorneys basic and the U.S. Office of Justice in customer defense, privateness, and environmental regulation across a numerous assortment of industries, which include engineering, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and wellbeing care.

“Cozen O’Connor’s nationally identified State Attorneys General Exercise advises our consumers on intricate and sophisticated regulatory problems and governing administration investigations that impression their business, and even their quite existence,” mentioned Lori Kalani, co-chair, Cozen O’Connor Condition Attorneys Normal Practice. “Bringing Paul on board more boosts our means to serve consumers nationwide throughout myriad industries.”

Co-chair Bernie Nash extra, “Paul stands as a single of the most respected and dependable previous main deputies, and we are humbled by his joining our Condition AG Team.”

Connell’s spectacular keep track of report consists of good outcomes in matters involving privacy and info security (which includes the Children’s On line Privateness Protection Act (COPPA)), misleading trade techniques, fake advertising and marketing, antitrust, value-correcting, and wellness treatment fraud.

Prior to his appointment as Deputy Attorney Normal, Connell served as a federal prosecutor for 12 yrs in the Western District of Wisconsin. During his tenure, he labored closely with the FBI and other federal businesses and led hundreds of grand jury investigations, which include individually arguing a lot more than two dozen cases on attractiveness before the 7th U.S. Circuit Courtroom of Appeals. He taken care of hundreds of cases and tried intricate situations involving revenue laundering and bank fraud, ERISA, firearms, and drug trafficking.

Connell used the early element of his vocation in a securities enforcement apply group in which he distinguished himself defending a major expense lender in opposition to a vast-ranging inquiry into conflict of interests involving the expenditure bankers and telecom analysts. He labored intently with the Securities and Trade Commission, the Nationwide Affiliation of Securities Sellers, and the U.S. Office of Justice. He also had the distinction of being a member of the team that represented the Distinctive Committee to the board of directors of Enron Corporation and aided draft the Powers Report, detailing Enron’s misuse of mark-to-current market accounting and other fraudulent business enterprise practices, eventually major to the firm’s personal bankruptcy.

“Paul provides a depth of experience and critical relationships in the complicated globe of attorneys common, with the addition of a sizeable history doing the job in the economic regulatory enforcement and investigations arenas. These are exceptionally precious ability sets and know-how that will significantly reward Cozen O’Connor purchasers in Chicago and throughout the nation,” mentioned Jeremy J. Glenn, Cozen O’Connor’s Chicago Office environment Handling Lover.

“I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to add my capabilities and knowledge to Cozen O’Connor’s really regarded and broad-reaching Point out AG Group,” mentioned Connell. “My 1st-hand working experience in an AG business office, jointly with the networks I have built, will permit me successfully to guidebook and defend clients’ company and strategic interests.”

The addition of Connell further strengthens Cozen O’Connor’s Point out AG exercise, a team of 16 legal professionals who commit their exercise to comprehension and deciphering this complicated area of legislation and who have deep and long-standing experienced relationships with AGs and their senior personnel. It reinforces the firm’s motivation to 1 of the most demanding and progressively substantial regions of regulatory enforcement and litigation, particularly thinking about the ongoing ramifications of the pandemic and the future adjust in administration.

Connell gained his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin, Parkside, where by he graduated cum laude. He gained his J.D., magna cum laude, from the Marquette University Law College, wherever he was the executive editor of the Marquette Regulation Assessment.

About Cozen O’Connor

Proven in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has around 750 lawyers who support clientele handle danger and make improved business selections. The business counsels consumers on their most subtle legal matters in all places of the legislation, which includes litigation, corporate, and regulatory legislation. Symbolizing a wide array of top world firms and middle-market place providers, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ requires by way of 30 offices across two continents. Take a look at www.cozen.com.