Washington, D.C. – Attorneys General Jonathan Skrmetti of Tennessee and Phil Weiser of Colorado, current co-chairs of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Antitrust Committee, have selected Elizabeth Odette of the Minnesota Office of the Attorney General as the next NAAG Multistate Antitrust Task Force Chair. The Task Force consists of antitrust attorneys in attorneys general offices across the country and coordinates multistate antitrust litigation efforts. The chair leads the Task Force in its work, organizes education and training for staff, and liaises with other professional antitrust organizations.
“Robust enforcement of our antitrust laws is an important piece of helping people afford their lives, and there is nobody I’d trust more to lead NAAG’s Antitrust Task Force than Elizabeth Odette,” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. “In the four years Elizabeth has worked at my Office, she has made a significant impact on our work, on the law and public policy, and the lives of Minnesotans. I am confident Elizabeth will lead with the same integrity, tenacity, and focus on justice that she brings to her work on behalf of the people of Minnesota.”
“As co-chair of the National Association of Attorneys General Antitrust Committee, I’m excited to work alongside Elizabeth as she steps into leadership of our Multistate Antitrust Task Force,” said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. “Her enthusiasm, experience, and commitment to bipartisan collaboration will help the state attorneys general protect consumers around the country.”
Odette joined the Minnesota Office of the Attorney General in April 2020 and currently serves as the Manager of the Office’s Antitrust Division. Notable work and accomplishments include:
- Leading the Office’s oversight of certain healthcare transactions pursuant to a new law passed in 2023.
- Co-leading efforts on behalf of State Attorneys General to establish USDA’s Agriculture Competition Partnership that provides funding to state attorneys general offices and promotes cooperation to enhance fairness and competition in the food and agriculture markets.
- Leading Minnesota’s efforts in the USDOJ antitrust lawsuit that Minnesota and New York joined to block the merger of UnitedHealth Group and Change Healthcare.
Within the Task Force, Odette has served as a co-chair of the Education and Training Committee and the Legislative Committee. Prior to joining the Minnesota Office of the Attorney General, she was an associate and partner at Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P in Minneapolis. Odette has also served as a pro-bono volunteer attorney at the Children’s Law Center for the past 14 years, representing youth clients in foster care in child protection cases.
Odette graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in Marketing Management. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. She is a member of the Minnesota bar.
Impact of the NAAG Multistate Antitrust Task Force’s Work: The NAAG Multistate Antitrust Task Force has played a crucial role in enhancing state antitrust enforcement across the United States. By coordinating multistate litigation efforts, the Task Force has successfully tackled numerous antitrust violations, ensured fair competition and protected consumers from monopolistic practices. The Task Force’s collaborative approach has led to significant settlements and judgments, benefiting consumers and promoting a competitive marketplace. Additionally, the Task Force’s commitment to education and training has equipped state antitrust attorneys with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively address complex antitrust issues.
About the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG): The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) is a nonpartisan organization of the attorneys general of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. NAAG provides a forum for the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and insights on legal and law enforcement issues, and fosters bipartisan collaboration among its members to address common challenges and advance the rule of law.
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