Nationally Recognized Political Lawyer Joins Akerman's Washington DC Office

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced it has expanded its Washington, D.C., office with nationally recognized political lawyer, Brett Kappel. A leading authority on campaign finance, lobbying and government ethics laws, Kappel has deep, bipartisan experience with political law on the local, state and federal levels. Kappel joins Akerman as a partner in the Government Affairs & Public Policy Practice Group. He was previously with Arent Fox LLP.

"Brett is one of the leading practitioners of political law and he knows the myriad ways in which corporations and organizations can misstep the highly complex area of campaign finance," said Richard Spees, chair of Akerman's Government Affairs & Public Policy Practice Group. "Brett has skillfully advised countless companies, trade associations and political action committees (PACs) on the rules and regulations that govern political activities in the United States. Akerman clients will greatly benefit from his experience representing organizations and individuals before Congress and the Federal Election Commission."

Kappel focuses his practice on political law, including federal, state and local laws and regulations governing campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics. His clients include corporations, trade associations, members of Congress, candidates for public office, political action committees, and Super PACs. He regularly represents clients in Federal Election Commission enforcement proceedings, rulemakings, and the advisory opinion process. Kappel has represented numerous clients with Matters Under Review (MURs) before the FEC and has experience negotiating conciliation agreements as well. He has lobbied Congress on a wide variety of issues that traverse the financial services, aviation, energy and other industries. 

Kappel represents candidates across the political spectrum. He served as general counsel to Ron Paul's, R-Texas, 2012 presidential campaign and also represented Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky, and U.S. Representative Alan Grayson, D-Fla., before the Federal Election Commission. He was the co-author of the advisory opinion request that resulted in the FEC allowing campaign committees to accept contributions via text message. In addition, Kappel is recognized as one of the top lawyers in Washington, D.C., for campaigns and elections by Washingtonian and is consecutively listed by Super Lawyers for his reputation in legislative and governmental affairs, and in administrative law.

Kappel is the latest addition to the fast-growing firm. Akerman was reported by The American Lawyer as the top-gaining law firm in the United States for lateral partner hires, with the largest percentage increase of total partnership during the 2014 fiscal year. Akerman was noted for its explosive growth in Chicago, Florida, New York and Washington, D.C. The firm recently welcomed former associate White House counsel and white collar criminal defense lawyer Christopher Oprison, who is a co-resident of the firm's Miami and Washington, D.C., offices. Seasoned intellectual property lawyer Stephen Glazier, white-collar defense lawyer Jeffrey Gordon and commercial litigator Brian Stansbury also joined the Washington, D.C., team in recent months.

About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The National Law Journal NLJ 350 (2014). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2014).

The Akerman Government Affairs & Public Policy Practice Group includes a bi-partisan team of lawyers and public policy advisors located in Washington, D.C. and Florida. The group is experienced in appropriations, transportation, hospitality, healthcare, education, Native American Affairs, and local government representation.

More information can be found at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.

SOURCE Akerman LLP

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