Government Ethics & Compliance

Overview

Engaging in the political process can advance your organization’s priorities, but it also brings complex and constantly evolving compliance obligations. Whether you are communicating with government officials, supporting candidates and political committees, organizing advocacy efforts, or expanding a political action committee, you need practical guidance that keeps your objectives moving forward while managing regulatory risk.

Alston & Bird helps corporations, trade associations, nonprofits, political entities, foreign principals, and individuals navigate the federal and state laws governing political activity. We advise on campaign finance, lobbying disclosure, gifts and travel, fundraising and contributions, advocacy initiatives, and interactions with public officials. Our team draws on public- and private-sector experience to anticipate compliance concerns and translate detailed requirements into clear, workable guidance for your organization.

Compliance is most effective when it reflects how your organization actually operates. We conduct audits, develop policies and procedures, prepare solicitation and advocacy materials, advise on reporting obligations, and help establish and administer political action committees. From congressional site visits to multistate lobbying activity, our guidance is tailored to your goals, organizational culture, and risk profile.

When an investigation, audit, or enforcement inquiry arises, you need counsel who understands both the legal requirements and the government institutions involved. We represent clients before the Federal Election Commission, Department of Justice, Government Accountability Office, and congressional committees in investigations, penalty proceedings, audits, and congressional testimony. That perspective helps you respond thoughtfully, address potential deficiencies, and make informed decisions in sensitive, high-stakes situations.

We provide practical guidance that helps you pursue your priorities with confidence and compliance.

Experience

• Advising the leadership of multiple leading trade associations on political action committee compliance matters, including solicitation of members’ senior executives.
• Counseling the senior executives of a leading provider of health care services through home health, hospice, and community-based services locations on campaign finance laws and political contributions.
• Assisting with the development of political solicitation materials and other communications via email, internal or external websites, memoranda, and printed materials.
• Advising on gift rules for congressional interaction and interactions with federal, state, and local agencies and officials, as questions arise.
• Advising on developing a congressional delegation site-visit plan that is consistent with House and Senate ethics rules.
• Providing strategic counsel to clients working to expand the size and scope of their political action committees.
• Establishing a political action committee for a leading national manufacturer of medical equipment and laboratory tests and supporting all reporting obligations and employee solicitations.
• Counseling a leading cybersecurity software solutions company on compliance with federal lobbying laws and state lobbying laws in all states where the company had retained lobbying representation; and filing periodic federal and state lobbying disclosure reports.
• Advising a trade association annually on calculations of membership dues attributable to lobbying activities for purposes of members’ tax deductions.
• Drafting bylaws and policies for newly established political action committees that reflect sponsoring corporations’ culture and preferences.
• Counseling the leadership of a medical professional trade association on permissible advocacy and political activities for 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) organizations and affiliated political action committees.
• Representing a client in an audit by the Government Accountability Office of Lobbying Disclosure Act filings and addressing deficiencies found during the audit.