Former FEC Chairman Donald McGahn Rejoins Patton Boggs

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Patton Boggs LLP today announced that Donald F. McGahn, the former chairman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), will rejoin the firm as partner.  Mr. McGahn, who worked at Patton Boggs from 1995-1999, will be part of the firm's Political and Election Law group, which includes Partners Benjamin L. Ginsberg, who was national counsel to President George W. Bush's 2000 and 2004 election campaigns and Mitt Romney's 2008 and 2012 campaigns, and William J. McGinley, former counsel to the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

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Mr. McGahn served on the FEC for five years, including as the agency's chairman during the 2008 election cycle and as its vice chairman during 2013.  During that time, election law underwent unprecedented change as a result of both a series of court decisions such as Citizens United v. FEC, as well as FEC actions initiated by Mr. McGahn.  The New York Times dubbed Mr. McGahn one of the "architects of the campaign finance revolution."

Mr. McGahn's rulings and opinions at the FEC are viewed as the current law regarding so-called Super PACs, coordination, political party programs and other issues.  Mr. McGahn spearheaded a number of new procedures at the FEC, rewriting much of the rules regarding the agency's audit and enforcement processes.

Prior to serving on the FEC, Mr. McGahn served as the general counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee in Washington, DC.  In that role, Mr. McGahn was a trusted advisor to the House Republican Leadership and House Republicans.  In addition, Mr. McGahn represented numerous elected officials, party committees and other political participants before the FEC, House and Senate Ethics Committees, state regulatory agencies and in court.  Prior to his FEC tenure, Mr. McGahn had represented and advised almost all current House committee chairmen. 

"We are delighted that Don McGahn will be returning to the firm," said Edward J. Newberry, managing partner of Patton Boggs.  "He is an extraordinarily talented attorney whose experience as an FEC chairman and commissioner provide him with a deep understanding of the evolving complexities of the laws that govern our nation's elections.  Don will join Ben Ginsberg and Bill McGinley to bolster what we consider to be one of the preeminent election law practices in the country."

During Mr. McGahn's time at the FEC, the agency grappled with a number of high profile issues.  Mr. McGahn was viewed as the leader of the Republican commissioners, and led the charge for clearer, simpler rules.  He has been credited with authoring the FEC's current rules on the bundling of lobbyist contributions, travel rules implementing the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, and coordination of political spending and political party programs.

"I had the privilege of serving on the Federal Election Commission for five years, including as its chairman, and now I have the privilege of once again joining one of the most widely respected law firms in the country," Mr. McGahn said.  "I'm excited to join one of the nation's leading law firms and to work with such an impressive group of people.  I am eager to put my years of experience at the FEC and representing politicians and others political participants to work on the cutting edge issues in election law today."

As an integral part of the Patton Boggs Public Policy practice, members of the firm's Political and Election Law practice assist clients in complying with federal and state election laws, lobbying and gift laws, as well as ethics regulations. Clients include large and small corporations and trade associations, candidates for office, state political parties, issue advocacy groups, donors, and vendors.

About Patton Boggs LLP

Patton Boggs is a leader in public policy, litigation and business law, and is well-known for deep bipartisan roots in the political arena. The firm's core practice areas are government relations and lobbying, administrative and regulatory, commercial and transactional, litigation and dispute resolution, intellectual property and international law.  

From offices in Washington DC, New York, New Jersey, Dallas, Denver and Anchorage, and internationally in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai and an affiliate office in Riyadh, more than 450 lawyers and professionals provide comprehensive, practical legal counsel to clients around the globe. For more information about the firm or its attorneys, visit www.pattonboggs.com.

SOURCE Patton Boggs LLP