Overview
Many New York businesses view “lobbying” as an activity pursued only by a select group of law firms and other specialists. Yet their own employees technically might be lobbying every day simply by seeking contracts of a certain size from New York state or local government entities. What’s more, companies that fail to systematically report such procurement-lobbying activities to the state may face financial penalties and damaging media reports of their alleged “unethical business practices.”
As New York’s largest lobbying firm and with the top ranking for more than a decade from the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, Wilson Elser understands every dimension of the state’s intricate and nuanced lobbying laws.
As New York’s largest lobbying firm and with the top ranking for more than a decade from the Joint Commission of Public Ethics, Wilson Elser understands every dimension of the state’s intricate and nuanced lobbying laws. Our bi-partisan lawyers have represented hundreds of clients in an array of lobbying issues, which has honed our ability to help clients analyze their activities, file the required reports, and be fully prepared if a government inquiry is initiated.
Our team provides counsel to lobbying firms, companies, organizations, associations, pension funds and others across the entire spectrum of lobby law compliance, including:
- Determining whether current activities constitute lobbying that would demand registration with New York State and New York City, and assisting with the registration process
- Training lobbyists to effectively track critical information, and advising them on matters such as offering gifts to, or hosting events for, elected or public officials
- Developing internal procedures to track expenses, legislation, regulations and procurement activity so they can be efficiently reported to the state and city
- Proactively uncovering potential issues through internal audits, ensuring that documentation is complete, accurate and sufficient if an actual state or city audit were to emerge
- Representing clients during audits, investigations or civil penalty hearings to strive for the best possible outcome and to mitigate potential financial or reputational fallout
Many companies, organizations and associations hire us to assist with lobby law compliance issues regardless of whether we serve as their lobbyist. Our clients universally appreciate our commitment to tailor resources and services to their specific needs. Some engage us for limited hourly services while others take advantage of our comprehensive lobbying compliance solution, which encompasses every aspect of their reporting processes and compliance efforts. Additionally, our team acts as in-house lobby law counsel to many companies in New York state.
Wilson Elser stays in constant contact with the state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics and the Office of the City Clerk in New York City to stay up-to-date on the state’s evolving ethics laws, and even teaches continuing legal education courses on these topics to other practicing attorneys in the state.