Attorneys need to be fully aware of federal ethics rules if they want to successfully engage in lobbying and governmental advocacy. Recent debate in Congress over the creation of an independent ethics oversight office serves as a sincere reminder that there have been many changes to lobbying and ethics rules in the past year and that more are still to come. Corporate counsel, lobbying firms, and attorneys who deal with Congress need to know how these changes will affect the way they do business.
West Legalworks provides this webcast to offer insight into the latest congressional and executive lobbying, ethics, and gift-giving rules. The editors of Political Activity, Lobbying Laws and Gift Rules, 3d Edition (West Legalworks, 2008), will answer critical questions such as:
Who needs to register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act?
What impact will this act have on corporations, including foreign corporations and corporations with foreign affiliates?
What are the federal tax laws affecting political activity and lobbying by tax-exempt charitable organizations?
What is the tax treatment of lobbying expenses?
How are gifts now defined under Congressional and Executive rules?
Speakers:
Trevor Potter, President and General Counsel, Campaign Legal Center, Washington, D.C. The Campaign Legal Center is a nonprofit which assisted in the legal defense of the McCain-Feingold law on behalf of the Congressional sponsors. Mr. Potter served as General Counsel of the McCain 2000 campaign and Deputy General Counsel of the George H.W. Bush 1988 campaign. He is also Counsel to John McCain 2008.
Joseph M. Birkenstock, Caplin & Drysdale, Chtd., Washington, D.C. Mr. Birkenstock is a former Chief Counsel of the Democratic National Committee and presently advises Members of Congress, major non-profit organizations, trade associations, and Fortune 500 corporations about the requirements of campaign finance, ethics, and lobbying regulation.
David E. Frulla, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, Washington, D.C. Mr. Frulla counsels corporations, labor organizations, and trade associations on a range of government ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance issues. He has helped initiate federal and state campaign finance and lobbying reporting services, and has assisted in procuring communications support for PAC fundraising and mobilization efforts. A registered lobbyist himself, Mr. Frulla has experience organizing and managing trade associations and undertaking regulatory and legislative advocacy.
Robert K. Kelner, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP, Washington, D.C. Mr. Kelner chairs Covington's Election and Political Law Practice Group. He advises major corporations, trade associations, political party committees, and lobbying firms concerning compliance with campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics laws. He regularly defends corporations against FEC and other government investigations
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