Based in Buchalter’s Denver office, Mike Kilgarriff is Co-Chair of the firm’s State Attorneys General (State AG) Practice and a national leader in defending companies facing investigations, enforcement actions, and litigation brought by State AG offices. His practice is focused exclusively on helping companies navigate high-stakes State AG enforcement—whether it’s a confidential single-state investigation, a multistate coalition inquiry, or parallel scrutiny from financial services and securities regulators.

Mike has worked directly with the state attorneys general of every U.S. state except Wyoming, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. His State AG enforcement experience includes some of the largest multistate actions in the country, including a 39-state coalition enforcement action, as well as dozens of individual State AG lawsuits and investigations.

Mike’s clients include financial services companies, fintech platforms, cryptocurrency and digital asset businesses, and other highly regulated industries. He is known for bringing a defense-first, litigation-driven approach to State AG matters. His work includes responding to civil investigative demands (CIDs), subpoenas, and government audits, negotiating multistate resolutions, and defending companies in state and federal courts.

Mike’s practice is singularly focused on defense—he does not represent governments. He is fully committed to helping companies minimize risk, protect their businesses, and resolve State AG scrutiny with strategic, practical solutions.

In addition to State AG enforcement defense, Mike maintains an active commercial litigation practice for companies facing high-risk disputes tied to regulatory exposure, consumer claims, business torts, and complex contracts.

Mike is recognized as one of the few private-practice lawyers nationally whose State AG enforcement experience spans virtually every jurisdiction in the United States.

Pro Bono Commitment

Mike maintains an active pro bono practice focused on civil rights, immigration, and representing vulnerable populations. His work includes federal civil rights litigation, guardianship proceedings for at-risk children, and advocacy on behalf of displaced seniors and immigrant youth.

Awards & Recognition: 

  • The Legal 500 USA – Dispute Resolution, Financial Services Litigation (2025)

State AG & Regulatory Enforcement Experience

Mike’s State AG enforcement experience spans multistate coalitions, individual lawsuits, and parallel investigations by financial services and securities regulators.

  • Current lead counsel in a major multistate State AG investigation and coordinated litigation involving consumer protection and financial services.
  • Lead defense counsel in a 39-state State AG multistate enforcement action, one of the largest in recent years, involving allegations of unfair and deceptive practices.
  • Defended clients in lawsuits brought by State AG offices in Illinois, Washington, Pennsylvania, California, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico.
  • Represented clients in standalone State AG enforcement investigations brought by Texas, Indiana, Delaware, Tennessee, the District of Columbia, Kansas, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, and Oregon.
  • Advises clients facing enforcement actions brought by financial services and securities regulators, including:
    • California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI)
    • Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions (DFI)
    • New York Department of Financial Services (DFS)
    • Texas State Securities Board (SSB)
    • Washington Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
  • Defended a cryptocurrency and digital asset platform in coordinated enforcement actions brought by State AG offices, securities regulators, and financial institutions regulators involving securities compliance, financial regulation, and consumer protection.
  • Led the defense of a company in a healthcare fraud investigation brought by a State AG office.

Complex Commercial Litigation Experience

  • Served as national coordinating counsel in nationwide product liability litigation involving allegations of asbestos-contaminated talc.
  • Defended a global automotive manufacturer in investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and multiple State AG offices related to emissions compliance.
  • Represented a fintech company in bankruptcy proceedings involving concurrent regulatory enforcement issues.
  • Represented an aerospace company in complex indemnification litigation involving pension and retiree medical obligations.
  • Represented a professional sports franchise in bankruptcy litigation involving high-value media rights disputes.

Notre Dame Law School, J.D. (2014)

  • Harold Weber Moot Court Award – Outstanding Achievement in Oral Advocacy

  • Award for Excellence in Global Law

Loyola University Chicago, B.A., cum laude (2008)

  • All-American – American Mock Trial Association

Additional Specialties

Consumer Financial Services Litigation & Compliance
Fintech, Payments & Digital Assets Regulatory Defense
Complex Commercial Litigation
Banking & Financial Services
Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets