The work of the Firm’s lawyers on legislative and regulatory policy matters has extended across diverse issue areas. We have advocated before the Congress and the Executive Branch in support of statutory and regulatory provisions that would benefit our clients’ businesses. We also have worked with our clients to develop the legal and policy arguments in opposition to proposals that would adversely affect their businesses.

Our general approach is to work with clients to identify issues and areas of need, and determine whether a legislative or regulatory solution is the proper vehicle to address those issues or needs. We then work with our clients to craft the appropriate solutions, and shape and communicate the appropriate policy arguments to support our proposals. Oftentimes our work on policy issues includes drafting the desired legislation or regulations and the explanatory language to be used as legislative history or regulatory guidance. Drafting white papers in support of our proposals also is essential to our advocacy.

As lawyers, the key to our policy work is knowledge of the relevant law and an understanding of what can or cannot be done within the strictures of complimentary laws and regulations. Throughout the process of a particular project, we act as an ongoing resource for the relevant Congressional or agency staff. In this respect, we assist not only with legal issues, but also policy and political issues. Where appropriate, we also assist in the organization of coalitions of parties with similar interests or concerns to increase our effectiveness by leveraging the knowledge, experience, and political resources of a broader group of interested parties trying to achieve the same goal.

Our lawyers also counsel clients with respect to proposed and enacted legislative and regulatory changes and the effect of such changes on their businesses. We have prepared clients for testimony before Congressional committees and administrative agencies, and through our involvement in public policy matters, we also have advised clients with respect to lobbying disclosure, campaign finance, and Congressional ethics rules.

Our experience with legislative and regulatory matters includes work on a number of issue areas, including international trade, taxation, energy, food safety, transportation, environmental compliance, fisheries regulation, and labor. We further endeavor to build a comprehensive understanding of regulatory frameworks and agency administration, as well as familiarize our clients with comparative regulatory practice in the governments of analogous countries.