Godfrey & Kahn regularly advises businesses and trade and industry associations on campaign finance, election law and lobbying and ethics regulation-in short, on the law of politics and government. Several of our attorneys have direct experience with state and national political campaigns. We also provide a great deal of legislative counseling, planning, analysis and drafting for business and industry groups. In July 2006, the Firm opened an office in Washington, DC to support our corporate and political law clients.

Members of the political law group frequently speak before seminars organized by businesses and trade associations, and two of them teach "Political Law: Campaign Finance, Ethics and Elections" at the University of Wisconsin Law School. They also regularly author articles on subjects in this area.

For additional information on our work in this area, contact Mike Wittenwyler at 608-284-2616 or mwittenwyler@gklaw.com.

Campaign Finance
We counsel a growing list of state and national clients on contributions to candidates and political organizations in Wisconsin, in other states and nationally. Trade associations, businesses, issue advocacy and interest groups, consultants, public opinion firms and others need specialized counsel in this complex and changing area of the law. We provide that counsel.

Our work in this area includes:

• Counseling clients on state law, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, and the Federal Election Campaign Act, including the use of corporate facilities and funds for political purposes
• Representing clients before state regulatory agencies and the Federal Election Commission
• Structuring contribution programs and preparing opinion letters for specific contributions
• Advising clients on independent expenditures, issue advocacy communications and other independent political activities, including the coordinated activities of independent organizations
• Establishing entities engaged in issue advocacy and other nonfederal activities
• Advising tax-exempt organizations on political involvement under the Internal Revenue Code and state and federal campaign finance law
• Counseling municipal finance professionals and consultants on restrictions on campaign contributions under MSRB Rules G-37 and G-38
• Conducting due diligence research on political groups
• Assisting with internal compliance and training

Lobbying and Ethics Regulation
Our attorneys frequently advise individuals, businesses and organizations that regularly communicate with elected officials, legislative staff, and other public officials. These individuals and entities are often subject to state and federal lobbying and ethics regulations. Our attorneys also counsel appointed and elected public officials on the regulations and restrictions in connection with their outside business interests and income. Members of the group also have experience working with U.S. subsidiaries of foreign parent corporations on complying with the Foreign Agents Registration Act. In addition to providing counsel on the law, the group assists clients in establishing internal compliance and reporting programs.

Tax Regulation of Political Activity
The Internal Revenue Code directly affects political conduct and communication. Any organization-for-profit or nonprofit that engages in lobbying or political activity should be aware of the tax treatment of expenditures made to influence legislation and political campaigns. These regulations - including the nondeductibility of lobbying expenses and taxation of political organizations - are complex, and noncompliance often leads to penalties or unwanted change in tax status. Members of the group regularly provide counsel to businesses and organizations on the tax implications of political activity.

Election Law
The group regularly counsels its clients on election law and working effectively within the electoral system, including state and local referendum activity. In addition to advising businesses and trade associations, our attorneys have provided counsel to candidates for public office on recounts and to public officials on recall efforts. Members of the group also have extensive experience with the law of redistricting/establishing political boundaries every 10 years to reflect the results of the decennial census.

Legislative Analysis, Strategy and Drafting
We monitor the state legislature and state administrative agencies. Drawing on the varied experiences of attorneys who have worked in state and federal government, members of the group are often asked to evaluate client issues from a legislative and regulatory perspective. Several attorneys have firsthand experience in drafting legislation and administrative rules. In many situations, they are working in tandem with a lobbyist for a business or trade association.