The Bryan Cave Election Law and Government Ethics Group provides a wide range of legal advice and services, with particular emphasis on helping clients comply with the federal election laws, Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules and regulations, state and local election laws, House and Senate ethics rules, the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 and the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.

The Bryan Cave Election Law Group serves as outside counsel to the McCain-Palin presidential campaign and was general counsel to Sen. Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign during 2007-2008.

The Bryan Cave Election Law Group provides advice and counseling to candidates, campaigns, political parties, corporations, corporate executives, trade associations, political groups and individuals. We advise clients on how to comply with the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, as well as with FEC regulations and reporting requirements. We also are available to represent clients who are subject to FEC enforcement actions, audits and litigation. Our practice particularly focuses on representing corporations and corporate political action committees on all aspects of the federal election laws, including complying with the FEC’s complex PAC administration and reporting rules.

In addition, we advise clients on how to comply with the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) and the major changes to the LDA that became effective in 2008. We assist corporations and trade associations in accurately tracking and reporting their lobbying activities under the LDA.

Our work includes state and local election law compliance, as well as providing advice to tax-exempt organizations that are subject to regulation by the Internal Revenue Service, the FEC and state and local regulatory authorities. We also provide advice on complying with rules promulgated by the House and Senate Ethics Committees.

The Bryan Cave Election Law Group is headed by Michael Toner, former chairman of the Federal Election Commission. Toner was a commissioner on the FEC from 2002-2007. He served at the FEC while the agency implemented the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), which made the most sweeping changes to the federal election laws in a generation. Toner previously served as chief counsel of the Republican National Committee, general counsel of the Bush-Cheney 2000 presidential campaign and general counsel of the Bush-Cheney transition team.

Our group also includes Associate Attorney Corinne Falencki, who served with Toner at the FEC, Reporting Specialist Karen Trainer, who has experience working at the FEC’s Reports Analysis Division, and Rebekah Miller, who formerly worked with U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce and serves as Toner’s special assistant. John Barrie, a partner in Bryan Cave’s Washington, D.C., and New York offices, provides tax advice and assistance with respect to tax exempt organization and political expenditure issues. There are additional professionals at Bryan Cave who also contribute valuable assistance to the group, as needed.

The Bryan Cave Election Law and Government Ethics Group is available for consultation at your convenience.