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Practice/Industry Group Overview
Our Washington, DC-based policy & lobbying lawyers know the people, processes and protocols in the Executive and Legislative branch and represent clients interests on Capitol Hill with services ranging from advice and representation to working on bills.
Policy
Baker Hostetler represents clients who seek to resolve or avert federal and state policy-related concerns through legislative or administrative action. Our team includes former members of Congress, a former U.S. Ambassador, senior executive branch officials, and state administrators and legislators. We have the knowledge and skill to represent the following types of organizations in their policy and lobbying needs: FORTUNE 500 companies, financial concerns, U.S. multinationals, foreign corporations, agricultural interests, professional sports teams and leagues, trade associations, healthcare providers, educational institutions and other not-for-profit organizations.
Lobbying
In addition to traditional legal advice, we develop solutions that advance clients' interests through the crafting and passage of legislation, advocacy in opposition to legislation or working with administrative agencies on beneficial regulations. Additionally, we represent U.S. multinationals and foreign corporations in responding to international government affairs problems/challenges. This includes conducting high level negotiations and fact gathering in foreign countries.
We complement our legislative and regulatory capabilities by providing comprehensive legal advice on the maze of federal and state campaign finance, lobbying and ethics laws, and advise individuals, political action committees (PACs), corporations and trade associations on conducting appropriate political activities.
We also represent foreign governments in the U.S. and abroad in issues related to trade, security, customs, culture and government relations.
We customize policy and lobbying strategies that reflect our thorough understanding of the complexity of governments in the United States and around the world.
Policy & Lobbying Experience
- Counsel Major League Baseball in all its important day-to-day lobbying and legislative concerns, including the controversy over alleged steroid use by players. Advise the National Association of Homebuilders, one of the most powerful trade associations in the world with 220,000 members, on lobbying issues.
- Aided a Medicaid pharmaceutical benefit management company in West Virginia when the state consolidated under one agency all four companies doing this work, a move that had put our client at a competitive disadvantage.
- Lobbied on behalf of a telecommunications corporation to educate Congress concerning telecom issues -- from antitrust to illegal downloads of films and music -- involved with their purchase of another multinational telecommunications company.
- Helped the American Security Council (a Section 501(c)3 nonprofit entity founded in the 1950s) rebuild their organization and create a Political Action Committee for bipartisan efforts to keep America strong.
- Represented a mutual fund company managing more than $200 billion in assets as their Washington lobbyist on mutual fund reform.
- Advise various major South African companies, including a leading insurer, in their U.S. government relations concerns.
- Led federal legislative efforts to block increased taxation of life insurance and to modernize the laws governing real estate investment trusts.
- Advocated for passage of legislation in a variety of states that broaden investment opportunities for public funds, protect charitable trusts and enhance electric industry deregulation.
- Represented corporations in legislative issues related to the regulation of asbestos litigation.
Solution
In today's environment of increased scrutiny of lobbying activities, most corporations with significant legislative interests in Washington should have a Political Action Committee (PAC) to mitigate the risk of noncompliance.
Problem: The Federal Election Commission has recently levied significant fines against companies for relatively common fundraising practices of lobbyists and governmental affairs employees.
Baker Hostetler has a solution.
Solution: To mitigate the risk of noncompliance with federal election laws, most corporations with significant legislative interests in Washington should have a Political Action Committee (PAC).
Increased government scrutiny of corporate compliance with federal election laws make this the right time for companies without a PAC to consider establishing one. Baker Hostetler has significant experience in establishing and operating PACs and would be pleased to discuss this service with you.
Result:
- A PAC provides a mechanism for the support of political interest favorable to a company's position within theguidelines of federal law.
- A PAC is a useful point where the inevitable requests that corporate executives, lobbyists and governmental affairs personnel will receive from political campaign and party organizations for contributions can be directed.
About Baker Hostetler
Baker Hostetler lawyers help clients establish, maintain and protect market-leading positions across the United States and around the world. We offer clients the strength of 600+ lawyers in a full range of practices, a unique geographic platform including both the coasts and the center of the country, a deep knowledge of industry issues and a 90-year track record of excellence and achievement.
For more information about our Policy & Lobbying practice:
National Contacts
Tom McDonald
202-861.1664
mcdonald@bakerlaw.com
Cincinnati
William Appleton
513.929.3403
wappleton@bakerlaw.com
Cleveland
Jeffrey H. Paravano
216.861.7487
jparavano@bakerlaw.com
Columbus
Lori A. Herf
614.462.2667
lherf@bakerlaw.com
Costa Mesa
George T. Mooradian
714.966.8800
gmooradian@bakerlaw.com
Denver
Raymond L. Sutton
303.764.4103
rsutton@bakerlaw.com
Houston
Lisa H. Pennington
713.646.1303
lpennington@bakerlaw.com
Los Angeles
John F. Cermak
310.442.8885
jcermak@bakerlaw.com
New York
Paul P. Eyre
212.589.4210
peyre@bakerlaw.com
Orlando
G. Thomas Ball
407.649.4004
tball@bakerlaw.com
Washington, DC
Tom McDonald
202-861.1664
mcdonald@bakerlaw.com
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