Kirkland Bolsters State AG Practice With Gibson Dunn Hire

Shah joined Kirkland as a partner in Houston, according to Reuters and an announcement from Kirkland. His practice focuses on investigations, enforcement actions and litigation involving state attorneys general, an area that has grown in significance as states pursue cases spanning antitrust, consumer protection and other regulatory issues.

The move adds a lawyer with experience on both sides of government enforcement disputes. Shah previously served as senior counsel to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and was acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas in 2021, Reuters reported. He also worked for Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, including as chief of staff and chief counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Shah joined Gibson Dunn in 2021 and subsequently represented corporate and industry clients in litigation involving the Texas attorney general’s office, according to Reuters.

Among those matters, Shah represented food-industry trade groups challenging a Texas law requiring warnings for certain ingredients, including some food dyes and preservatives. He was also part of the team defending BlackRock in litigation brought by Texas and 12 other Republican-led states. The states accused BlackRock and other large asset managers of violating antitrust law through climate-related activities they alleged curtailed coal production and increased energy prices.

Federal court records show Shah is withdrawing from both cases following his move to Kirkland, Reuters reported.

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The hire comes as state attorneys general take an increasingly prominent role in corporate enforcement. Democratic and Republican state officials have coordinated investigations and litigation across industries, creating another layer of legal and regulatory exposure for companies already facing scrutiny from federal agencies.

Related: Kirkland Expands Antitrust Bench With Pair of Axinn Partners

Gibson Dunn itself warned clients in a publication last month that businesses face growing compliance and litigation risks from increasingly assertive enforcement by state attorneys general from both political parties, according to Reuters.

Recent cases underscore their reach. Reuters reported that a group of state attorneys general last week obtained an $18 billion settlement with Meta Platforms over allegations involving the design of Facebook and Instagram for younger users. Earlier this year, states also scored a victory when a federal jury found Ticketmaster and parent Live Nation had illegally monopolized U.S. live-event markets.

Kirkland said Shah will advise companies and executives dealing with state investigations and enforcement proceedings, while also handling federal, congressional and internal investigations and other complex civil disputes. The firm described his government background and experience responding to state AG investigations as complementary to its broader litigation practice.

Shah said in a LinkedIn post cited by Reuters that state attorneys general are playing a growing role in disputes affecting corporate America and that he wants Kirkland to become a leading destination for companies confronting significant state-level matters.

The recruitment also continues Kirkland’s expansion of its litigation operation in Texas. The firm said Shah follows other prominent additions to the practice, including Andrew LeGrand.

Source: Reuters