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Former First Assistant Attorney General for New Jersey Lyndsay Ruotolo is joining the ranks at national law firm Cozen O’Connor.

In a March 2 press release, the firm welcomed Ruotolo as a member of its award-winning State Attorneys General group. She will be based in Cozen O’Connor’s office in New York City, the announcement said.

Ruotolo is an accomplished and sought-after prosecutor and legal leader. Her career spans federal violent crime litigation, major criminal investigations, complex administrative oversight and civil litigation.

In her most recent post as first assistant attorney general, Ruotolo served as the second-highest ranking official in the state’s Department of Law and Public Safety. Reporting directly to the AG, Ruotolo managed an 8,000-employee department, 21 county prosecutor’s offices and more than 42,000 New Jersey state law enforcement officers.

Her responsibilities included overseeing all major investigations, regulatory decisions and civil enforcement matters ranging from consumer protection actions in the technology and financial services space to civil rights and voter protection issues.

During her tenure, she played a central role in major consumer protection cases. Her experience includes a $495 million settlement with an international financial institution that represents one of the largest civil settlement awards ever obtained by the state.

Extensive resume

Ruotolo’s background also includes serving as director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and as an assistant United States attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Additionally, she spent two years as acting Union County prosecutor.

Prior to going into public service, Ruotolo worked in the commercial litigation area of Morristown-headquartered McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter. She earning a bachelor’s degree from the Tisch School for the Arts at New York University and law degree from New York Law School. After her education, she clerked for Superior Judge Ellen Koblitz.

Her departure from the AG’s office follows the Sherrill administration’s leadership transition from Matthew Platkin to Jennifer Davenport.Ruotolo’s former boss just launched his own mission-driven law firm focused on high-impact litigation. A team of senior litigators from the AG’s office joined Platkin.

‘Next chapter’

Cozen O’Connor began in 1970 as a small insurance and subrogation practice in Philadelphia. It has since grown into a full-service international law firm with over 1,000 lawyers spread across nearly three dozen offices.

The firm is known for high-stakes corporate work, complex litigation and regulatory representation. In addition to handling areas such as corporate transactions, real estate, labor & employment, insurance and energy law, Cozen O’Connor has strength in multistate matters and state attorneys general investigations.

Ruotolo shared, “I’ve long admired Cozen O’Connor and its State Attorneys General group and I’m excited to begin the next chapter of my career here.”

“I’m looking forward to bringing the strategic and results-driven mindset I used to serve the people of New Jersey to work for our clients in helping them resolve difficult legal issues and move their businesses forward. I am thrilled and honored to join this incredible team of attorneys and professionals,” she added.

‘An important hire’

State Attorneys General Group co-Chair Dustin McDaniel said, “Lyndsay brings to us a deep understanding of how the New Jersey AG’s office operates, as well as her national reputation of experience of working with states on cutting edge matters — including consumer protection, antitrust, cybersecurity, data privacy, the environment, finance, and labor relations. She is a fantastic addition to our group, and we are very much looking forward to working with her.”

New York office co-Managing Partner Geoffrey Ferrer said he’s happy to welcome such “an important hire.”

“Having served in a number of senior government positions, Lyndsay brings to our clients a sophisticated, first-hand understanding of how policy positions are formulated and enforced, as well as long-standing professional relationships within the New Jersey state government itself,” he said.

“When an AG focuses attention on a client’s activities or business practices and an investigation or lawsuit ensues, Lyndsay has the experience to develop and execute a vigorous defense,” he said.