With the election of Missouri Attorney General (AG) Eric Schmitt to the U.S. Senate earlier this month, Governor Mike Parson got another opportunity to pick the state’s AG. Gov. Parson appointed Andrew Bailey, general counsel to the governor since 2021, to be Missouri’s next attorney general until the term ends in 2024. Mr. Bailey joined the governor’s office in 2019 as deputy general counsel before becoming the general counsel in 2021. Before joining the governor’s office, Mr. Bailey served as a Missouri assistant AG, assistant prosecuting attorney for Warren County, and as general counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Mr. Bailey said he would review the cases brought by Schmitt to see whether he wants to continue pursuing them. AG Schmitt prioritized many different consumer protection issues during his term. In recent months, AG Schmitt led the investigation against Morningstar, Inc.’s use of environmental, social, and governance (ESIG) data in financial decision-making, alleging that the ESG ratings report constitute “deceptive, fraudulent, or unfair practices,” under the state’s consumer protection acts.

Mr. Bailey graduated from University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in English before joining the U.S. Army as an officer. He attended law school at the University of Missouri School of Law. Mr. Bailey and his wife fostered and adopted three children and recently had their fourth child.


Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team

Ashley Taylor – Co-leader and Firm Vice Chair
Ashley is a partner in the firm’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) Practice Group and co-leader of the State Attorneys General practice. He focuses primarily on federal and state government regulatory and enforcement matters involving state attorneys general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Drawing upon his experience as a deputy attorney general, Ashley has developed an extensive consumer practice with regard to the consumer financial services industry.
Clay Friedman – Co-leader
Clay is a partner in the firm’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) Practice Group and co-leader of the State Attorneys General practice. Informed by nearly a decade in a state attorneys general office, and more than 25 years in private practice, Clay spends much of his time representing clients in singular or multistate regulatory actions. Clay has repeatedly led teams before all 50 state attorneys general and also handles matters with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and other local, state and federal agencies.
Stephen Piepgrass
Stephen represents clients interacting with, and being investigated by, state attorneys general and other enforcement bodies, including the CFPB and FTC, as well as clients involved with litigation, particularly in heavily regulated industries.
Michael Yaghi
Michael handles high-profile state attorneys general, FTC, and CFPB investigations by advising clients through these complex government inquiries. He assists clients through the entire life cycle of investigations, from regulatory enforcement through formal litigation.
Ketan Bhirud
As a former government official at the state and federal level, Ketan leverages extensive experience in the public and private sectors to skillfully represent client interests.
Avi Schick
A former deputy attorney general of New York, Avi applies his experience in bet-the-company matters, representing clients in criminal and civil investigations and enforcement actions before state and federal regulators, prosecutors and enforcement agencies.
Chris Carlson
Chris represents clients in regulatory, civil and criminal investigations and litigation. In his practice, Chris regularly employs his prior regulatory experience to benefit clients who are interacting with and being investigated by state attorneys general.
Natalia Jacobo
Natalia is an associate in the firm’s business litigation practice. She recently received her J.D from the University of California, Davis School of Law.
Namrata Kang
Namrata is an associate in the firm’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) Practice Group, based in the Washington, D.C. office. Her work includes advising clients in regulatory investigations and compliance matters, in addition to representing clients in civil litigation matters.
Whitney Shepard
Whitney is an attorney in the firm’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) Practice Group. She represents clients facing state and federal regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, as well as related civil litigation.
Stephanie Kozol
Stephanie is Troutman Pepper’s senior government relations manager in the state attorneys general department.