They’ve Got Next: State Attorneys General Practice Fresh Face Jay Jones

A striking memory from childhood helped propel Jay Jones into law and public service.

His father, a criminal defense attorney and state legislator, sometimes had clients who couldn’t pay legal fees. There would be a knock on the door, and someone would bring in collard greens and other produce. His father never discussed the implied exchange—that people were giving what they had, however small, in gratitude for service.

“Service is in my blood, and it’s something I come by earnestly and honestly because it’s all I’ve ever known,” said Jones, who joined Hogan Lovells this year as part of an effort to build out a state attorneys general practice under Karl A. Racine, the first attorney general elected by the people of the District of Columbia.

The state attorneys general practice will continue to build off of Jones’ unique mix of experience in finance, politics, and litigation.

Virginia native Jones graduated from college in the Great Recession and worked as Goldman Sachs analyst. After noticing the layoffs all around him he entered law school and began practice in his home state.

From there he ran and won a spot on the Virginia House of Delegates, serving from 2018 until 2022. Next came a losing campaign for the Virginia Attorney General Democratic primary, which connected him with Racine.

He brought Jones into his D.C. office and put him on the ghost guns litigation, which led to a permanent injunction and $4 million in fines against Polymer80, Inc., the manufacturer and distributor in August 2022, for advertising and selling the untraceable weapons, which are illegal in the district.

Ghost gun manufacturers sell firearm kits and parts without identification numbers that consumers can use to assemble weapons. Washington, D.C.’s first-of-its kind case created a template for other state attorneys general to crack down on the advertising and selling of untraceable guns to consumers.

“Jay is an exceptionally bright and skilled litigator, who was an important part of our team at the D.C. Attorney General’s office in crucial, high-stakes cases, including those involving gun safety, the use of AI technology, and ESG investing,” said Racine.

“I am proud of the part he played in all that we accomplished, and very happy to have him on our team here at Hogan Lovells as we build the firm’s new state AG practice.”

Jones said running for the office of attorney general of Virginia, working for an attorney general, crafting laws in the state legislature and working in private practice combined gives him a unique perspective he hopes to use as he helps guide clients that are interacting with state attorneys.

“Being able to put ourselves in the shoes of the AGs and think about what’s driving their interest in a particular subject, or driving their interest in a particular client is useful,” he said. “That sets us apart from anyone else that has a practice like this.”

He sees working at Hogan Lovells as the next chapter in a life of service.

“Doing the most amount of good for as many people as possible is what gets me out of bed every single day,” he said. That takes different forms when your professional life changes, but that’s what keeps me going.”