Elections & Political Law
Our Elections & Political Law Group provides unparalleled representation to clients in political litigation disputes and guides them through the complex maze of laws regulating politics and government.
Our Team: The Election & Political Law Group is nationally ranked by Chambers USA and supported by a “team of exceptionally capable, knowledgeable and practical attorneys” who are routinely recognized by Chambers USA, Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. In addition to a deep understanding of the laws influencing politics and government, our lawyers have personal experience working on presidential and congressional campaigns, within the executive branch and in various leadership positions on Capitol Hill. Based on this broad experience, we are attentive to clients’ concerns about the legal, financial and public relations complications inherent in the political process.
Litigation: Political clients turn to McDermott because it is “particularly well regarded for its prowess in political law litigation, where it represents clients at every level.” Our political law attorneys are active litigators who have argued before the Supreme Court of the United States in First Amendment cases, including most recently McConnell v. Federal Election Commission. We regularly represent amicus curiae parties in First Amendment challenges, such as Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Nixon v. Shrink Missouri Government PAC, McComish v. Bennett) and the Republican National Committee (Randall v. Sorrell). McDermott lawyers also have appeared on behalf of our political practice clients before numerous appellate courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal, Third and Sixth Circuits. We have represented our clients in trial courts throughout the country, successfully defending two national political party committees in a jury trial and obtaining summary judgment in other cases. We have successfully represented clients in defamation lawsuits and participated in ballot recount litigation, most notably in the Florida recount battle that followed the 2000 presidential election.
Enforcement: Clients seek our help when accused of political law violations. Our lawyers have defended clients entangled in enforcement actions by the Federal Election Commission, congressional ethics committees and state election and ethics bureaus. In Federal Election Commission enforcement actions we have represented a presidential campaign, successive presidential nominating conventions, national political party committees, elected officials, companies and private citizens. We also have represented several officeholders before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ethics. In various matters, we secured early dismissals of citizen-filed complaints and negotiated favorable settlements for clients under investigation by enforcement entities.
Compliance: Our Elections & Political Law Group regularly counsels clients on complex questions involving federal and state campaign finance regulation, lobbying disclosure, legislative and executive branch ethics rules and “pay-to-play” restrictions. We have also advised clients on tax issues regarding political committees. Our clients include many Fortune 500 companies, congressional leaders and executive branch officials, candidates, nonprofit organizations, political action committees, political party committees and trade associations.
Contacts
- M. Miller Baker
+1 202 756 8233
Send E-mail - Stephen M. Ryan
+1 202 756 8333
Send E-mail
