Federal & State Campaign Finance

Recognized by Chambers USA as the “leading election law practice,” Wiley has “formidable experience in campaign finance and ethics laws.” Our attorneys routinely advise on the application of federal and state campaign finance requirements to our clients’ political activities. We also keep clients informed of the latest policy and regulatory developments that may impact their participation in the political process.

Federal Campaign Finance Compliance Counseling. At the federal level, we help corporations and trade associations understand the complex laws governing political action committees (PACs), workplace political activity, independent expenditures, electioneering communications, and other forms of independent political advocacy. Our firm also has extensive familiarity with the campaign finance law’s more nuanced provisions, including those affecting foreign nationals and their U.S. subsidiaries, government contractors, financial institutions, media outlets, and Internet websites and related technologies. 

We also counsel numerous federal candidates, political parties, super PACs, politically active 501(c) organizations, and individual donors on federal campaign finance and related tax compliance issues. Our attorneys and reporting specialists review many of our clients’ campaign finance disclosure reports before they are filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Our team also reviews large volumes of political advertising every election cycle to ensure compliance with applicable campaign finance, copyright, and defamation laws. And we regularly represent clients before the FEC in enforcement actions, audits, and other matters.

State & Local Campaign Finance Compliance Counseling. Clients rely on our attorneys’ extensive knowledge of state and local campaign finance laws to assist them in navigating these ever-changing rules. We regularly advise corporations, trade associations, and other nonprofits, on:

• State and local contribution limits and prohibitions, including the application of pay-to-play laws;
• The disclosure and reporting requirements triggered by participating in state and local elections;
• The ability of federal PACs to make state and local contributions; and
• The compliance issues associated with establishing state and local PACs.

Each of the 50 states (and the District of Columbia) has a unique set of campaign finance laws that we catalogue in broad-ranging surveys and in a database containing more targeted insights. We offer detailed guidance to help clients with these challenging requirements.

Contact Us

Michael E. Toner
202.719.7545 | mtoner@wiley.law