Federal contractors, grantees, borrowers, and others receiving federal funds face a variety of restrictions on their use of those funds for political purposes, including for lobbying. A new presidential memorandum issued last week by President Trump highlights one of those restrictions, 31 U.S.C. § 1352, also known as the
Continue Reading Administration Targets Lobbying by Federal Grantees with New Presidential Memorandumlobbying
When 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 LobbyingCovington Announces Political Law Survey (2025 Edition)
Posted in Political Law
Covington is pleased to announce that it has revised and updated its comprehensive 50-state survey of political laws for 2025.
Corporations, trade associations, non-profits, other organizations, and individuals face significant penalties and reputational harm if they violate federal or state laws governing corporate and personal political activities, the registration of…
Continue Reading Covington Announces Political Law Survey (2025 Edition)LDA’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 CompaniesCovington 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 …
Covington Publishes Comprehensive Advisory Comparing Biden and Trump Executive Orders on Ethics
By Robert Kelner & Zachary G. Parks on
Posted in Government Ethics
The ethics rules that apply to Presidential appointees shifted Wednesday, in some ways significantly, as President Biden, just hours after being sworn in, signed an “Executive Order on Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel” and President Trump, just hours before his term expired, revoked his Executive Order on …
Continue Reading Covington Publishes Comprehensive Advisory Comparing Biden and Trump Executive Orders on Ethics
Guidelines for Interacting with the Biden-Harris Transition and the Biden Inaugural Committee
By Robert Kelner on
With the election over, attention now turns to the transition and the upcoming inauguration of the new Biden-Harris Administration. In this alert, which will be of interest to chief compliance officers and many others across the country, Covington’s Election and Political Law Practice Group provides insight into what promises…
Continue Reading Guidelines for Interacting with the Biden-Harris Transition and the Biden Inaugural Committee
A Rookie’s Guide to Federal Lobbying Compliance: Four Key Risks for Companies Contacting Government Officials on COVID-19 Matters
By Zachary G. Parks & Derek Lawlor on
Posted in Lobbying Compliance
As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic spreads through every industry, companies that previously steered clear of Washington, D.C. may find themselves contacting the federal government for assistance. From communicating with Members of Congress about potential provisions of the CARES Act to requesting new forms of assistance from federal agencies…
Continue Reading A Rookie’s Guide to Federal Lobbying Compliance: Four Key Risks for Companies Contacting Government Officials on COVID-19 Matters
House COVID 3.0 Legislation Would Ban Federal Lobbying and Impose Permanent Corporate Political Spending Disclosure Requirements for Aid Recipients
The countless lobbyists urging Congress to include relief for their clients in the third coronavirus legislative package (“COVID 3.0”) currently pending in Congress may soon be unemployed, at least if the House version becomes law.
The Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act (H.R. 6379), proposed by Democrats…
Continue Reading House COVID 3.0 Legislation Would Ban Federal Lobbying and Impose Permanent Corporate Political Spending Disclosure Requirements for Aid Recipients