We understand the legislative issues that impact organizations, and we know the paths to resolution. Our deep bench and legal strength complement our reputation and relationships in Washington, DC, giving clients a seat at the table and access to our powerful government network.
Venable's bipartisan Government Affairs Practice includes registered lobbyists, attorneys, and policy advisors who came to the firm from distinguished careers in federal and state government. This team has an extensive network of active contacts from both major political parties on Capitol Hill, the executive branch, and a plethora of key government agencies. We leverage this insight to go beyond making introductions to fostering productive, results-driven relationships. This advantage enhances our ability to craft effective arguments and devise legislative and regulatory strategies that yield positive outcomes.
We represent our clients in regulatory and public policy issues that include:
- Monitoring Capitol Hill and executive branch activity
- Legislative drafting, strategy development, and implementation
- Preparing committee report language and congressional testimony
- Providing direct advocacy to key congressional and agency leadership and staff
- Creating and supporting coalitions
- Identifying and obtaining sources of federal funding via appropriations and authorizations
- Coordinating congressional meetings and fly-ins
- Providing advice on the organization, coordination, and management of similarly situated constituencies
Our practice is bolstered by Venable’s full complement of legal services, enabling us to draw on the knowledge and experience of attorneys across practice groups, and deliver precise answers and workable solutions, no matter the challenge.
Financial Services
With experience navigating federal agencies and congressional committees with jurisdiction over financial services issues, our team represents payment processors, trade associations, global financial institutions, insurance companies, and alternative lenders at every level.
On behalf of clients we execute direct advocacy campaigns, develop and shape policy, expand existing congressional relationships, and engage with the current administration to further position our clients.
Congressional Investigations
Our bipartisan congressional investigations group has a deep understanding of congressional and committee rules, key players, and the internal and external politics involved in these often high-profile investigations. We have guided clients through proceedings, ranging from industry and issue specific to confirmations, on a variety of topics, including advertising and marketing, antitrust, consumer protection, energy and environment, ethics and management, financial services, food and drug safety, government contracts, healthcare, homeland security, nonprofit, and privacy and data security. Our attorneys work to develop nuanced response strategies that unambiguously tell our clients’ side of the story to Congress, company stakeholders, and, when appropriate, the general public.
Privacy and Data Security
Venable is at the center of policy discussions that benefit our clients and the industry. We offer counsel on such topics as location tracking, drone privacy, and autonomous vehicles at the federal and state levels. Our team provides comprehensive legislative advocacy in front of the U.S. Congress, state attorneys general, and relevant federal agencies on privacy, data security, and cybersecurity matters. We coordinate legal and policy research on congressional and regulatory developments, lobby Congress, and advise on public policy communications and grassroots efforts. We also participate in rulemakings, draft congressional testimony, convene coalitions, and support efforts by trade associations to draft and implement self-regulatory programs.
Telecommunications
We advocate on behalf of our telecommunications clients on matters related to privacy, cybersecurity, consumer protection, and telemarketing legislation. Our attorneys have participated in the drafting of virtually every federal telemarketing regulation implemented in recent decades, including FCC rulemakings related to the full range of telecommunications and mass media issues. Our work on these issues dates to the inception of the current telemarketing era. Venable attorneys represented a leading trade association and several telemarketing companies in a challenge to the national "do not call" (DNC) registry and related telemarketing regulations issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). We also helped to shape the legislation enacted in the wake of that challenge.
Aerospace
Our experience in civil, commercial, and national security space policy enables clients to influence the debates and discussions on industry challenges. Our team, including former leadership from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation and the National Space Council, collaborates with policy makers to drive legislative developments in the field. They have worked on such policy tasks as the executive order reviving the National Space Council during the current administration, and a wide array of civil, commercial, and national security space issues on behalf of the vice president.
Tax Policy
Venable’s tax policy professionals include former staff of the congressional tax-writing committees and the Joint Committee on Taxation. These individuals develop and execute strategies to further our clients’ interests in specific legislation and broad-based tax reform proposals. We assist clients whose interests may be affected by tax legislation already enacted, as well as organizations in need of a voice on pending legislation being considered by Congress.
Transportation
Our team brings creative solutions to our transportation industry clients and successfully advocates on their behalf before relevant congressional committees. We advise transportation clients in various industries in every aspect of federal government affairs, including policy formation, research and analysis, direct advocacy, legislative drafting, congressional testimony and preparation of committee report language, fly-in coordination, and coalition building.
Coalition Building
We provide a full range of advocacy measures on behalf of our trade association clients, including submitting written comments, offering testimony at congressional and regulatory hearings, drafting legal and policy white papers, engaging with policymakers directly, and holding industry events. We also have experience launching and managing ad hoc coalitions and trade associations.
Appropriations
Venable’s lobbying team has a long record of success when it comes to securing appropriations for clients. Our extensive experience with the appropriations process—including relationships with members of the Appropriations Committees and key congressional staff—enables our team to identify applicable funding sources and garner support for funding requests.
