Jeff Modisett serves as legal advisor to Fortune 500 and high-technology companies on a number of issues including antitrust, consumer protection, privacy and political relationships. He has a depth of experience as a trial lawyer and prosecutor, and currently specializes in resolving complex legal problems prior to litigation and in advising clients on positive alternative approaches to the state attorneys general as a method of resolving issues.
Jeff has led or assisted in the resolution of numerous complex issues or litigation in recent years, with representative clients including Anthem, GlaxoSmithKline, Merlin Entertainments Group, Oracle and Sempra Energy. He advises clients such as Bacardi USA, Fiserv Inc., Publishers Clearing House and Starwood Hotels on corporate compliance and best practices. Recently, Jeff worked with Microsoft to obtain attorney general approval of a major search advertising deal and with Facebook in successfully resolving security questions from state attorneys general. In addition, he works with clients to brief state attorneys general on current and upcoming high-tech issues.
Jeff was elected as Indiana Attorney General in 1996 and, prior to that, as the county prosecuting attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has worked as an independent consultant specializing in state and federal government relations; co-CEO of TechNet (a high-tech policy group); deputy CEO and general counsel of the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles; and executive assistant to former Indiana Governor Evan Bayh.
As attorney general, Jeff became actively involved in two national efforts: the states’ legal battle against the country’s top cigarette manufacturers and the investigation of the sweepstakes industry. He was a member of the 1997 states negotiating team that reached a preliminary settlement with the tobacco industry which called for historic changes in the way cigarettes are marketed in this country. He was also chairman of the 1998 Allocation Committee responsible for devising a formula for distributing the $205 billion settlement to each of the states and territories. In 1998 and 1999, Jeff helped lead the states’ effort to reform the sweepstakes industry to better protect consumers, especially the elderly.
Jeff has lectured and written frequently on a diverse range of topics. In addition, he is frequently involved in attorney general conferences. He was voted one of the top lawyers in Indiana by Indianapolis Monthly magazine and, after moving to Los Angeles, one of Southern California’s “Superlawyers” by Los Angeles and Law & Politics magazines from 2006-2010. In 2009, Jeff was also named one of the top 100 lawyers in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Representative Experience
Major Prosecutions:
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State of Indiana v. Michael G. Tyson (boxer; rape)
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U.S. v. Church of Universal Harmony (major tax evasion scheme)
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U.S. v. Amir Motamedi, Homar Hezar, and Simon Shakib (3 cases of illegal export of military items to Iran)
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U.S. v. Ronald & Barry Semler (illegal export of helicopters to Korea)
Publications
Representative publications include:
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"Prosecuting Mike Tyson: Boxing with the Media," Ethnographies of Law and Social Control: Sociology of Crime, Law and Deviance, Vol. 6, pp. 145-163 (ed., Dr. S. L. Burns) 2005
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"The States and Gaming: A Brief Look at the Past, Present, and Future Through the Eyes of a Former Attorney General," 6 Gaming Law Review 197, 2002
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"Cyberlaw and E-Commerce: A State Attorney General’s Perspective," 94 Northwestern L. Rev. 642, 2000
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"Law and Ethics in Cyberspace: Who Will Lead?" San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 3, 1999
Civic Involvement and Distinctions
Jeff Modisett is involved with various organizations, including the Governor’s Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana, Governor’s Council of Impaired and Dangerous Driving, and the Family Advocacy Center (Indianapolis, IN).
He has received special recognition awards from the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Customs, Governor Evan Bayh (Indiana), and the Indiana Minority Caucus.