Zuckerman Spaeder LLP’s Government Ethics and Political Law Practice counsels clients to ensure compliance with federal and state ethics and campaign finance laws. We also have substantial experience representing individuals and entities in proceedings before congressional committees, inspectors general, the Federal Election Commission and in federal and state criminal investigations. Our clients include Fortune 500 corporations, trade associations, public relations firms, law firms, consulting groups, and current and former government officials from both sides of the aisle.
Compliance
We design and then implement government affairs compliance programs for our clients. We help protect clients from even inadvertently violating the complex web of ethics rules affecting businesses.
We also advise clients on issues that arise under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, Federal Election Campaign Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Ethics in Government Act, congressional and executive branch gift and travel rules, and counterpart state laws. We also counsel current and former government officials on matters arising under the laws and ethics standards governing post-government employment conduct.
Enforcement
In addition, we represent individuals and entities in inquiries, investigations, audits, and civil or criminal litigation arising from political activities. We are present with our clients to provide counsel when they appear before congressional ethics and investigative committees. Our attorneys have also assisted clients in response to enforcement actions initiated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), agency inspectors general, and the Department of Justice.
Many of our cases involve parallel congressional and criminal investigations, as well as civil litigation, with each proceeding impacting the others. The Government Ethics and Political Law Practice is able to draw upon the firm’s civil and criminal litigation experience to manage the risks as well as public relations issues that arise from parallel proceedings.
Political Law
In addition to representing clients in government ethics compliance and enforcement matters, we also represent individuals and entities in other political matters. For example, we assist clients in establishing and administering PACs and have also litigated voter protection issues. Our firm has also represented clients in Freedom of Information Act proceedings, which resulted in the public release of documents related to the prosecution of federal election crimes.
Experience
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Advised a defense contractor with regards to developing a corporate-wide ethics and compliance program and negotiated an administrative agreement with a government agency.
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Represented a former congressman in connection with investigations conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Department of Justice, and state law enforcement agencies into alleged criminal misconduct.
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Represented a public relations firm in connection with congressional and federal enforcement investigations into the activities of U.S. firms with foreign governmental clients.
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Represented two senior Clinton administration officials in Whitewater-related congressional and U.S. Office of the Independent Counsel investigations.
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Represented a not-for-profit entity before House and Senate committees investigating alleged violations of rules governing the activities of tax-exempt organizations.
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Represented a state agency in connection with criminal and legislative investigations into employee misconduct.
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Represented contributors and campaign officials in multiple U.S. Department of Justice and FEC investigations into alleged campaign finance law violations.
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Represented clients before the inspectors general of the CIA, the Postal Service, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Smithsonian Institution, and Amtrak.
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Developed and implemented a government affairs compliance program for a national trade association.
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Represented a high-profile individual in connection with an investigation into the U.S. foreign aid program.
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