Wiley, Political Law | Chambers USA Profile

About

Provided by Wiley

The firm represents many of the country’s largest corporations, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, public officials, political parties, individual campaign committees, and candidates. Our attorneys regularly advise clients on the laws and rules pertaining to lobbying, political contributions, political action committees, ethics, and the use of corporate facilities for political purposes. The Election Law group also litigates First Amendment and equal-protection challenges to election laws, voting rights cases, redistricting, and ballot access disputes, and defends clients in Federal Election Commission litigation and criminal proceedings.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Political Law - USA - Nationwide

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Wiley's leading election law practice has a notable focus on advising Republican candidates and party committees. The practice offers a wealth of experience in contentious FEC proceedings and congressional investigations. The team counsels corporations, nonprofit organizations and political action committees on federal and state lobbying, campaign finance and pay-to-play rules. Expertise also spans political law issues concerning the activities of foreign nationals and overseas corporations.

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Work Highlights

Wiley represented American Action Network in connection with a claim alleging that the client was subject to regulation by the FEC as a political committee, despite operating as an unregulated third‑party group.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

The team is incredibly timely in its responses and often flags additional issues that we hadn't even considered. In our world, things move fast, and the Wiley team recognizes that.

Political Law respondent
USA

Wiley prides itself on having the best practitioners in the field, with practical backgrounds and experience which allows them to innately understand my needs as a client.

Political Law respondent
USA

The team is populated with deep expertise and a broad understanding of the issues. The attorneys have strong acumen in our industry and of the political potholes that should be avoided.

Political Law respondent
USA

Wiley holds credibility with regulators. The team provides practical advice, with efficiency gained from advising a network of clients with similar issues.

Political Law respondent
USA

The team is incredibly timely in its responses and often flags additional issues that we hadn't even considered. In our world, things move fast, and the Wiley team recognizes that.

Political Law respondent
USA

Wiley prides itself on having the best practitioners in the field, with practical backgrounds and experience which allows them to innately understand my needs as a client.

Political Law respondent
USA

The team is populated with deep expertise and a broad understanding of the issues. The attorneys have strong acumen in our industry and of the political potholes that should be avoided.

Political Law respondent
USA

Wiley holds credibility with regulators. The team provides practical advice, with efficiency gained from advising a network of clients with similar issues.

Political Law respondent
USA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Brandis Zehr

Band 1

Brandis Zehr has established an impressive political law practice and offers notable experience in a broad range of issues, including matters relating to campaign finance, lobbying and representing clients before the FEC.

Brandi is an excellent attorney. She is extremely knowledgeable and flags potential campaign finance issues before they become a problem.

Brandi has a unique ability to provide creative solutions for complex and novel issues when most others would have believed that no such solution existed.

Brandi is my first port of call for day-to-day matters. She is a trusted confidant who is helpful and responsive.

Brandi is fantastic to work with and always provides clear guidance.

Brandi is quick to spot the key issues and give well-tailored, practical advice.

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Caleb P Burns

Band 1

Caleb Burns maintains a wide-ranging practice that includes advising corporations, nonprofit organizations and PACs on issues relating to the Foreign Agents Registration Act and FEC regulations.

Caleb is the perfect partner. He knows us and understands what we're trying to achieve.

Caleb distinguishes himself through his deep knowledge of campaign finance and compliance, paired with his ability to translate complex requirements into clear, practical guidance.

Caleb's awareness is such that he often knows our legal needs before we do. His advice is timely, strategic and excellent every single time.

Caleb is an exceptional lawyer and true partner to us. He really stands out compared to many other lawyers with whom I have worked.

Caleb Burns is the best political compliance lawyer in DC.

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Michael E Toner

Head of Political Law

Band 1

Michael Toner leads the election law and government ethics team at Wiley. He is a recognized expert for his work in the FEC space. He routinely represents PACs, nonprofit groups and political candidates, as well as large corporations.

Michael Toner is terrific. He analyzes complex problems, provides options for us and coordinates the team to get us to the right people.

Michael is a seasoned professional and has seen the ebb and flow of changes in political law.

Michael understands my organization's needs like no one else. The way he can anticipate campaign finance developments is uncanny.

Michael is always calm and collected even in the most chaotic or stressful of times. He strives to understand his clients' needs and to meet them where they are.

From moment one, Michael made me feel comfortable that we were in good hands and that he had the expertise we needed.

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Mark Renaud

Band 3

Mark Renaud handles the full range of election law issues including federal, state and local pay-to-play laws, lobbying rules and the development of internal compliance programs.

Mark is a pleasure to work with and really hits the mark on the set of issues he helps us with. He values our ideas and feedback and is very collaborative.

Mark is incredibly sophisticated in his knowledge of the law and the political environment. At the same time, he is effective in communicating complex nuances in layman's terms.

Mark is extremely responsive and provides concise, tactical advice, especially for discreet questions. He is great to work with.

Mark brings extensive expertise to his work, and his insights are always welcomed and helpful. He always makes time for his clients and stays up to date on the issues impacting our industry.

Mark's expertise in specialized areas like pay-to-play law is invaluable when an issue arises.

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Robert L. Walker

Band 3

Robert Walker provides counsel to clients in connection with congressional and government ethics rules, drawing upon his experience as a former chief counsel and staff director of the Senate and House ethics committees.

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Andrew Woodson

Band 4

Andrew Woodson s regularly engaged to defend clients before the FEC, acting on behalf of corporations and political committees alike. Drawing on his experience as counsel to the FEC’s chairperson, he advises clients across a wide range of political law matters.

Andrew is extremely personable and responsive. It is evident that he is an expert in campaign finance law, and he is thorough in his reviews and responses.

Andrew is extremely knowledgeable and a very decent person. He is a pleasure to work with.

Andrew's deep expertise in campaign finance law is a strategic advantage for us time after time. We know exactly how to engage based on his expert advice.

Andrew is really knowledgeable in the areas in which he advises us.

Andrew is responsive, knowledgeable and easy to work with.

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Stephen J. Obermeier

Band 4

Stephen Obermeier possesses notable litigation expertise, representing clients in disputes involving campaign finance and voting rights. He acts for party committees and individuals on political law matters.

Stephen always gets back to me very quickly and is knowledgeable on cases.

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