In January 2025, Covington issued a client alert noting that the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) for Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2025, which sets annual spending and policy for the Pentagon, introduced new China-related prohibitions on defense contractors and their consultants. The provision is finally set to take effect on June
Continue Reading New Restrictions on Defense Contractors Retaining Outside Consultants Will Take Effect This MonthLobbying Compliance
Covington Launches Election Year Toolkit
As the election season intensifies, companies face a rapidly evolving landscape of regulatory, compliance, and reputational considerations. With heightened scrutiny on political engagement, lobbying, campaign finance, and communications, organizations must be prepared to navigate complex and fast-moving legal requirements.
Drawing on our deep experience in election and political law, public…
Continue Reading Covington Launches Election Year ToolkitSenate Advances Bills To Broaden Foreign Agent Disclosures in Lobbying Reports
Shortly before adjourning for 2025, the Senate passed two bills to broaden disclosure and registration requirements related to the regulation of foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”) and the Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”): the Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act (S. 856 / H.R. 1883)…
Continue Reading Senate Advances Bills To Broaden Foreign Agent Disclosures in Lobbying ReportsWhen Investor Relations Become Procurement Lobbying
By Zachary G. Parks, Derek Lawlor & Kimberly Railey on
Posted in Lobbying Compliance, State Law
Employees in the investor relations departments of hedge fund managers and private equity firms typically do not consider themselves “lobbyists.” But state and local regulators sometimes have a different view. This article, published in the Hedge Fund Law Report, explains the types of investor relations activities that could…
Continue Reading When Investor Relations Become Procurement LobbyingLDA’s Registration Thresholds Increase for Lobbyist Employers and Lobbying Firms
By Derek Lawlor & Elizabeth Upton on
Posted in Lobbying Compliance
Under the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”), an organization or lobbying firm must register if it employs an individual who meets the definition of a “lobbyist” and if its total expenses or income for lobbying activities meet certain monetary thresholds. Usually, the two non-monetary thresholds determining when an individual becomes…
Continue Reading LDA’s Registration Thresholds Increase for Lobbyist Employers and Lobbying FirmsNew Law Appears to Restrict Defense Contractors from Retaining Consultants Who Lobby for Chinese Military Companies
Posted in Government Ethics, Lobbying Compliance
Under a newly enacted law, beginning June 30, 2026, defense contractors risk losing all future contracts with the Defense Department if they engage outside consultants that lobby for certain Chinese companies. On December 23, 2024, President Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) for Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2025…
Continue Reading New Law Appears to Restrict Defense Contractors from Retaining Consultants Who Lobby for Chinese Military CompaniesSenate Passes Two FARA-Related Bills
By Derek Lawlor & Alex Langton on
On Thursday, the Senate passed two bills — The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act (S. 264) and Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act (S. 289) — that attempt to increase disclosure of Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”) activity through amendments to the Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”). The…
Continue Reading Senate Passes Two FARA-Related BillsCovington Releases Updated Survey of Federal and State Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Gift Rules (2023 Edition)
Covington annually publishes a detailed survey of state campaign finance, lobbying, and gift rules. Now, for the first time, Covington is releasing an updated survey that details federal campaign finance, lobbying, and gift rules, in addition to those of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Corporations, trade associations, non-profits…
Continue Reading Covington Releases Updated Survey of Federal and State Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Gift Rules (2023 Edition)GAO Report Highlights Trends in Lobbying Disclosure Act Compliance and Enforcement
By Kimberly Railey on
Posted in Lobbying Compliance
The 2021 report from the Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) offers new details on the landscape of Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”) compliance and enforcement. The report is based on random audits of lobbyists’ filings and analysis of enforcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia (“USAO”).
The report…
Continue Reading GAO Report Highlights Trends in Lobbying Disclosure Act Compliance and Enforcement
Covington Releases 50-State Survey of Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Gift Rules (2022 Edition)
Corporations, trade associations, non-profits, other organizations, and individuals face significant penalties and reputational harm if they violate state laws governing corporate and personal political activities, the registration of lobbyists, lobbying reporting, or the giving of gifts or items of value to government officials or employees. To help organizations and individuals …