Rob Duncan: From Dinsmore to Deputy Attorney General of Kentucky
In December of 2023, Rob Duncan of Dinsmore’s Lexington office announced his return to public service, joining Kentucky’s newly elected Attorney General, Russell Coleman. Before joining Dinsmore, Rob dedicated his entire career to public service, most notably as Assistant U.S. Attorney and later as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
In the fall of 2024, ten months into his new role as Deputy Attorney General, Rob shared his thoughts on leaving private practice to become Kentucky’s Chief Operating Officer.
What is the role of the Commonwealth’s Deputy Attorney General?
As Deputy Attorney General, I serve as the Chief Operating Officer and oversee the Office’s litigation and investigatory functions. The Attorney General’s Office is comprised of nearly 200 attorneys, investigators and personnel involved in matters ranging from criminal litigation to consumer protection to Constitutional challenges. My role is to help lead a team of incredibly talented individuals – matching talent to task – to protect the public and enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
What pulled you back to public service?
From an early age, my parents helped instill in me the value of public service. I watched as they served the community in various ways, from mentoring young people to leading assorted civic and philanthropic causes. I was also fortunate to witness my dad’s commitment to public service in various capacities in three different presidential administrations.
Throughout my career – as a law clerk for a federal district court judge, as a career federal prosecutor, as the presidentially-appointed U.S. Attorney and now as the Commonwealth’s Deputy Attorney General – I’ve seen firsthand the tremendous impact public service can make on our neighbors and communities. It’s an incredible privilege to serve Kentucky families.
Every day in this role, our Office engages with some of the most complex and interesting legal questions any attorney could imagine, and I have the outstanding opportunity to work alongside talented and mission-driven colleagues. The days are fast paced, and sometimes challenging, but the work is tremendously rewarding.
From a personal standpoint, having the chance to work again with Attorney General Coleman – someone who I have known since we were in law school together at the University of Kentucky, and who I served with in the U.S. Attorney community – was an opportunity that I could not pass up.
How did your time at Dinsmore help prepare you for what you’re doing now?
Before coming to Dinsmore, I spent most of my career as a federal prosecutor, first investigating and litigating criminal matters and then ultimately leading the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky. At the Firm, I had the opportunity to build relationships with business leaders and professionals across Kentucky and develop my civil litigation skills. The experience I gained from working at Dinsmore, including working with so many smart and talented colleagues, has made me a better lawyer.
What are Dinsmore’s greatest strengths?
The Firm’s greatest strength is its people – the talented and collegial attorneys and business professionals who I enjoyed working with every single day. It was great to work with the Firm’s incredible talent up close, and I’ll continue to appreciate the many friends I made there.
What has been the biggest challenge of your transition to Deputy AG?
The biggest challenge I have faced so far is keeping track of the vast portfolio of work being done by my colleagues in the Office. Fortunately, I have great coworkers and an infrastructure in place to make sure that we get the job done for the citizens of Kentucky.
Are there any recent cases or initiatives you’re particularly proud of or that have had a significant impact on the community?
The Attorney General’s Office has a wide and varied mission, and I believe there are many examples of the good work done by my colleagues to keep Kentuckians safe, and to help uphold the law. I’ll touch on a few things that I believe are particularly important.
Early this year, Attorney General Coleman launched a renewed effort to protect Kentucky’s children from predators and exploitation. As a dad of two teenaged daughters, this fight is personal for me. During the legislative session, we worked with members of the General Assembly to enact new legislation outlawing horrific child sex abuse material. I’m proud to have helped work on these and other initiatives aimed at protecting Kentucky’s kids from online predators and other bad actors.
I’m also proud to work with my colleagues within the Attorney General’s Office, and within the law enforcement community more broadly, to help combat the scourge of opioid addiction.
Finally, I’m proud of the work done by our Office of Consumer Protection in protecting families from predatory business practices and recouping money for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth.