Federal, state, and local laws that govern political activities are increasingly numerous and complex. Inappropriate or illegal political activity can hinder work on important policy issues, impact a corporation's bottom line, or undermine a promising candidacy. Caplin & Drysdale's bipartisan Political Law group provides businesses, trade associations, nonprofits, candidates, and activists with timely, concise counsel on the high-stakes legal issues that involve "pay-to-play" restrictions, lobbying regulations, campaign finance laws, and ethics rules.
Responding to Political Law Investigations, Audits, and Complaints
In recent years, the Federal Election Commission ("FEC"), the Department of Justice ("DOJ"), U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics, House Committee on Ethics, Office of Congressional Ethics ("OCE"), and state regulators have brought a considerable number of criminal and civil political-law cases and investigations against government officials, corporations, nonprofit advocacy groups, and their officers. Full-scale audits of political contributions and lobbying activities are also common. These actions may result in significant fines, reputational injuries and even jail sentences. In such instances, the need for sophisticated expertise and experience in the myriad details of campaign finance, lobbying, "pay-to-play," and ethics laws and enforcement proceedings is immediate.
Lawyers in Caplin & Drysdale's Political Law Group regularly defend individuals and organizations in such proceedings. Their combined experience in government and private practice make them uniquely qualified to represent clients in enforcement actions involving political activity. Call the firm's Political Law group when:
- Responding to a campaign-finance complaint, inquiry, audit, or request for information by the FEC, the IRS, the DOJ, OCE, Congressional ethics committee, or a state regulator;
- Preparing for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit of federal lobbying activities;
- Negotiating with government entities on settlement agreements;
- Conducting internal investigations related to political activities;
- Replying to government inquiries, subpoenas, and summonses; and
- Developing coordinated press and legal defense strategies on political-law matters.
