The firm’s Government Relations Department, headquartered in our Washington office, advises and represents a wide range of U.S. and multinational clients in connection with legislative and regulatory matters, congressional and agency investigations, public policy development, and the design and implementation of strategic government relations programs.  Attorneys in the practice have worked in the U.S. Treasury, Commerce, and Justice Departments, Federal Communications Commission, International Trade Commission, the White House and the House of Representatives and the Senate. Willkie’s government relations attorneys combine significant political, legislative, and administrative experience, and technical expertise in a broad range of legal and public policy areas.  We are uniquely equipped to represent clients with government relations interests and concerns.

Our clients have included large corporations with well-established Washington offices for which we develop specialized lobbying campaigns, as well as smaller companies and trade associations for which Willkie attorneys are their Washington presence.  We also have extensive experience coordinating teams of outside counsel and consultants engaged by a client to carry out sophisticated lobbying and public relations strategies.

We counsel and assist clients seeking to influence decision-making in Congress and the Executive Branch on policies affecting international trade, foreign investment, U.S. and international food and agricultural policies, financial services, privatization, and energy.  In collaboration with other practice groups in the firm, the group has also lobbied on environmental, telecommunications, consumer product safety, and product liability issues.  In addition, the group provides client-focused reports that include in-depth, real-time monitoring, information gathering, analysis, and reporting on legislation and proceedings of Congress and the deliberations and actions of the Executive Branch and independent agencies.

Our services to clients include drafting legislation, Congressional testimony, comments on proposed rulemakings, and advocacy materials.  The group has prepared witnesses for appearances before congressional committees and federal agencies, both for “friendly” testimony and in connection with investigations where the client has been the target.  We also advise clients on compliance with federal and state campaign finance laws, lobbying registration and reporting, government ethics rules, foreign agent registration and reporting, foreign investment reporting regulations, export control regulations, industrial security requirements, Bioterrorism Act regulations and anti-money laundering programs.