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 rules and regulations, state and local election laws, House and Senate ethics rules, and the Lobbying Disclosure Act.

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 also 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, who is also the President of Bryan Cave Strategies.  Mr. Toner is the former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission and was a Commissioner on the FEC from 2002–2007.  Mr. Toner 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.  Mr. 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 John Barrie, a partner in Bryan Cave’s Washington, DC and New York offices, who provides tax advice and assistance with respect to tax exempt organizations and political expenditure issues.  The group also includes Senior Reporting Specialist Karen Trainer and Reporting Specialist Julie Fleming, both of whom have broad experience working at the FEC’s Reports Analysis Division, and Bryce Christy, who worked previously at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and who serves as Toner’s special assistant. There are additional professionals at Bryan Cave who also contribute valuable assistance to the group.

The Bryan Cave Election Law Group served as outside counsel to the McCain-Palin presidential campaign in 2008 and as General Counsel to Senator Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign during 2007-2008.