Jon Bruning

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Bruning is admitted to the Bars of Nebraska, Iowa, the Eighth Circuit, the D.C. Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Practice Areas

After being elected three times and serving as the Nebraska Attorney General from 2003-2015, Jon Bruning established Bruning Law Group with his former Attorney General senior team. Bruning helps businesses navigate the AG landscape with compliance, regulatory, policy, political, and enforcement issues.

Bruning understands the complexity of navigating business, public policy, and law. He is committed to providing swift, tailored strategies for each unique situation. Bruning has facilitated the successful resolution of multistate AG investigations, litigation, and enforcement actions for more than two dozen Fortune 500 companies. Represented industries include financial services, telecommunications, technology, energy, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, insurance, agriculture, gaming, transportation, and retail.

Bruning specializes in corporate compliance and investigations, local, state, and federal regulatory disputes, mergers and acquisitions, civil litigation, antitrust issues, and appellate advocacy. In addition, Bruning has extensive data breach response experience, focusing on privacy and regulatory compliance.

With his diverse expertise, collaborative approach, and commitment to excellence, Bruning’s clients benefit from his creative solutions that empower businesses and individuals to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and protect their interests.

Career

In 1996, Bruning began his career as a Nebraska State Senator at 27 and was reelected in 2000. When Bruning was elected Attorney General in 2002, he was the youngest AG in the nation and the youngest in Nebraska’s history. He was reelected in 2006 and 2010. In addition, he was elected President of the National Association of Attorneys General in 2009-2010 by 30 Democratic and 20 Republican colleagues.

During his tenure as AG, Bruning worked hard to protect consumers from scams, fraud, and unethical business practices by expanding the authority of the AG’s Consumer Protection Bureau. He also established the Nebraska Medicaid Fraud Unit to identify and eliminate fraud in the healthcare system.

In a state where agriculture is critical to the economy and sustainability of many communities, Bruning created the AG’s Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Bureau. These attorneys promoted good stewardship of Nebraska’s waters, land, and environment and stood firm against federal overreach. When the Environmental Protection Agency tried to regulate environmental issues best left to state regulators, Bruning led the charge and built coalitions of AGs and other stakeholders to challenge EPA’s unlawful power grab.

In 2015, Bruning established Bruning Law Group with his former Chief Deputy AG, Chief of Staff, and Solicitor General. In private practice, Bruning is committed to resolving his client’s issues through effective communication and creative solutions. Admitted to practice in multiple courts nationwide, Bruning leverages his broad network of connections, experience in resolving multistate investigations, and innovative approaches to deliver favorable outcomes.

Personal

A fifth-generation Nebraskan, Bruning grew up in Lincoln and received both his undergraduate degree with High Distinction and Honors and law degree with Distinction from the University of Nebraska. Bruning’s dedication to public service is demonstrated by his continued support of the University of Nebraska. At the College of Law, he serves as an adjunct professor. He also hosts the annual Bruning Public Service Lecture Series where AGs and others from across the nation are invited to discuss their experiences.

Bruning lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife of 28 years, Deonne. They have two adult children, Lauren and Jack.

Experience

Successfully led negotiations that led to a client’s $26 billion settlement in the opioid multistate litigation;

Negotiated settlements and limited document production obligations for numerous clients subject to multistate investigation;

Convinced AGs to launch a task force to address a critical consumer and public safety issue;

Secured critical AG amicus support in a U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals case that led to the reversal of an adverse lower court decision;

Facilitated the successful merger of two retail companies subject to review by the FTC and numerous AGs;

Raised awareness and convinced AGs to pursue litigation to challenge unlawful federal overreach;

Secured comment letters to federal agencies regarding proposed rules;

Convinced multiple AGs to drop qui tam claims against a client;

Convinced AGs to launch investigations into unlawful and anticompetitive practices in numerous industries;

Represented multiple stakeholders in one of the most complicated voluntary environmental remediation efforts in state history; and

Provided expertise as local counsel for clients subject to enforcement actions before Nebraska regulatory bodies.

Education