Political Law

Perkins Coie is proud to announce that once again it has been ranked by Chambers & Partners, publishers of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, as one of the top law firms in the United States.

Perkins Coie partner Bob Bauer was among those individuals appointed by President Obama to be co-chair and member of the 10-person Presidential Commission on Election Administration, which is tasked with finding ways to shorten lines at polling places, promote the efficient conduct of elections, and provide better access to the polls for all voters.

The National Law Journal (NLJ) selected Perkins Coie partner Bob Bauer as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in its annual list released today.

Perkins Coie has announced that 17 Associates and Of Counsel have been promoted to partner.  The new partner class of 2013 includes Brian A. Audette (Chicago), Eric G. Barber (Madison), Jeff J. Bowen (Madison), Adam M. Docks (Chicago), Albert M. Ferlo (Washington, D.C.), Andrew L. Greene (Seattle), Jeff Hanson (Seattle), Brian Hennessy (Palo Alto), Erika E. Malmen (Boise), Ezra Reese (Washington, D.C.), Danielle M. Ryman (Anchorage), Andrew H. Solomon (Portland), Amanda Tessar (Denver), Jeanette L. Thomas (Portland), Teresa Poulsen Tate (San Francisco), Amy Tucker (Seattle), and Brandon White (Washington, D.C.).

Perkins Coie LLP successfully represented a group of African-American and Hispanic voters from Texas in a case involving discrimination in Texas voting maps [Texas v. United States, Civil Action No. 11-1303 (D.D.C. Aug. 28, 2012).].

The all-things political news outlet Politico recently named Washington, D.C. Political Law partner Marc Elias to its "50 Politicos to Watch" list. The annual special section focuses on "up and comers" in a variety of categories such as candidates, journalists, lawyers, fundraisers, consultants and others that will be taking center stage in the political arena in 2012.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) this week became the latest government agency to grapple with the impact of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on the federal rights of legally married same-sex couples.  At issue was whether same-sex spouses, like other married couples, may make joint political contributions.

Just as the end of the year can be a good time to make charitable donations, it can also be a good time to make political contributions for those who give frequently in federal elections.  The federal campaign finance laws cap the total amount that an individual may give to all federal candidates and committees combined during a two-year period.

On April 4, 2012, President Obama signed into law the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act.

Bob Bauer has rejoined Perkins Coie as partner in the Washington, D.C. office in the firm's Political Law Practice. Bauer rejoins the firm after serving as White House Counsel since November 2009.

New Books Published on Recounts in Washington and Minnesota.

In response to public pressure for the regulation of political contributions by government contractors—commonly referred to as “pay-to-play”—many jurisdictions have enacted laws, promulgated regulations, or issued executive orders to maintain contracting process integrity and prevent a de facto regime where political contributions are believed to be a necessity in order to obtain government contracts. This summary provides quick overviews of some of the statutes that the various states have enacted that impose restrictions or special reporting requirements on political contributions by government contractors. Each summary discusses the scope of the pay-to-play laws, including which contracts and contractors are covered, and the potential sanctions for violations.