Publications
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05.26.2021Federal Election Commission Clarifies Permissible Uses of Campaign Finance DataUpdatesThis week the Federal Election Commission (FEC or the Commission) issued Advisory Opinion 2021-05 (Tally Up), telling a campaign vendor that it may not integrate federal campaign finance data into software that scores groups of voters based on how likely the group is to support certain candidates.
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01.21.2021Biden Executive Order Significantly Broadens Ethics Requirements for AppointeesUpdatesIn one of his first official acts, President Biden signed an executive order that sets stringent ethics rules for incoming executive branch appointees. The Executive Order on Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel reinstates and further expands ethics standards from previous administrations.
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06.18.2018Taking Stock of Newly Released FARA Advisory OpinionsUpdates
In this update, we detail some of the opinions and share the conclusion that overall, the opinions confirm that DOJ’s application of FARA tends to be extremely fact-specific, particularly where the foreign principal is directed, controlled or funded by a foreign government or political party.
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05.31.2018The D’Souza Pardon, Briefly ExplainedBlogsPresident Donald J. Trump tweeted that he “[w]ill be giving a Full Pardon to Dinesh D’Souza today. He was treated very unfairly by our government!” Why did the U.S. Department of Justice in 2014 prosecute D’Souza, a prominent political conservative who pleaded guilty to charges that he reimbursed friends for $20,000 in contributions they made to a 2012 New York U.S. Senate candidate?
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11.06.2017Proposed Legislation Boosts Enforcement of Foreign Agents Registration ActUpdatesU.S. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley introduced the “Disclosing Foreign Influence Act” last week, a Senate bill which would amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act, to remove an exemption from registration and boost enforcement by the DOJ.
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03.10.2017Department of Justice Posts Foreign Agent Informational Materials OnlineUpdatesThe Foreign Agents Registration Unit of the U.S. Department of Justice has updated its website to make available to the public searchable and downloadable informational materials filed by foreign agents. Informational materials are documents or other communications distributed on behalf of a foreign principal to two or more people.
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11.04.2016$18 Million Fine Levied for Campaign Finance Violation in Washington StateUpdatesOn November 3, 2016, a Thurston County Superior Court judge levied an $18 million penalty against a trade association for violations of Washington campaign finance laws.
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05.2016The Lobbying Manual: A Complete Guide to Federal Lobbying Law and PracticeLawyer PublicationsThis updated fifth edition provides detailed guidance for compliance with the suite of laws that impact federal government relations professionals. It provides practical examples of how to be compliant, and covers all of the major federal statutes and regulations that govern the practice of federal government relations work.
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03.16.2016Bribery and the Brokered Convention?Articles
In the industrial Midwest, after multiple ballots, the Republican convention finally chooses its nominee. Operatives for the frontrunner—a nationally known, polarizing figure who has infuriated Democrats with his abrasive rhetoric on the most divisive, racially-charged issue of the day—flood the city “with money to corrupt, with bullies to intimidate and with houries to seduce.”
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12.18.2012Political Giving, Like Charitable Giving, Raises Special Year-End IssuesUpdatesJust 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.
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04.04.2012President Obama Signs STOCK Act Into LawUpdatesOn April 4, 2012, President Obama signed into law the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act.
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03.10.2010'Citizens United' Will Affect Corporate Spending—But How?Articles
Corporate Counsel Weekly
Partners Judith Corley and Brian Svoboda published an article in Corporate Counsel Weekly on how the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United will impact corporate spending in advertising for federal elections. "For the first time in more than a century, corporations—whether for profits, non-profits, trade associations, or membership organizations—may now pay for advertisements that tell the audience to vote for or against a federal candidate," they wrote in the article "'Citizens United' Will Affect Corporate Spending—But How?" -
01.28.2010Supreme Court Makes Landmark Decision on Political Advertising FundingUpdatesThe U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Citizens United v. FEC, a case examining the legality of a documentary film released in 2008 about Hillary Clinton’s candidacy for president. In a 5-4 ruling, the court struck down laws banning independent electoral and issue advocacy sponsored by nonprofit and for-profit corporations.
Presentations
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12.01.2023FARA Legislative & Regulatory Updates and Q&ASpeaking Engagements5th National Forum on Foreign Agents Registration Act / Washington D.C.
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01.31.2023Nonprofit Year in ReviewSpeaking EngagementsACC National Capital Region / Washington, D.C. / Hybrid
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12.09.2022Navigating The Grey Areas of the LDA Exemption: New Implications of Advisory Opinions for Lobbying and PR FirmsSpeaking Engagements4th National Forum on Foreign Agents Registration Act / Washington D.C.
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12.09.2021
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02.19.2021Association of Corporate Counsel Roundtable DiscussionSpeaking EngagementsAssociation of Corporate Counsel
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05.18.2017
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04.12.2016 - 04.14.2016Business of Politics Series: Staying out of JailSpeaking Engagements
American Association of Political Consultants 2016 Annual Pollie Awards & Conference / San Juan, Puerto Rico
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10.13.2015The 2015 Democratic Presidential DebateSpeaking EngagementsLowell House, Harvard University / Boston, MABrian Svoboda will be talking with students at Harvard University during the 2015 Democratic Presidential Debate. For more information, click here.