On May 30, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) published a request for information (“RFI”) soliciting guidance on potential regulations that should be modified or repealed to reduce burdens and costs. This is part of a...more
On January 28, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order that requires all full-time political appointees to sign an ethics pledge (the “Trump ethics pledge”) that “contractually” binds them to certain ethical...more
The Office of Government Ethics (OGE), the agency within the executive branch that oversees conflict of interest compliance, recently published revised gift rules applicable to executive branch employees that become effective...more
The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (“OGE”) has issued updated rules, which became effective August 25, 2016, on recruiting federal employees for private sector jobs. The revision comes at a time when many in the federal...more
This July 2016 edition of the Guide to Political and Lobbying Activities includes updates to the section on compliance with federal, state and local pay-to-play laws applicable to government contractors as well as investment...more
The Supreme Court of the United States voted unanimously on June 27, 2016, to vacate former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell’s conviction under the federal honest services and extortion statutes. In doing so, the eight...more
Congress has some unfinished business on alternative energy policy, which may provide unusual legislative opportunities in an election year. While tax credits for wind and solar power received long-term extensions in the...more
The U.S. government reached settlements with two federal lobbyist registrants recently in what appears to signal increased enforcement of political activity laws. On August 28, 2015, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the...more
10/6/2015
/ Campaign Contributions ,
Campaign Finance Reform ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Compliance ,
Creditors ,
Debt Collection ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Election Commission (FEC) ,
Lobbying ,
Lobbying Disclosure Act ,
Lobbyists ,
PACs ,
Political Campaigns ,
Settlement ,
Trade Associations
This alert provides an overview of various timber tax issues in play as part of the tax reform debate. The alert is drawn from several sources, including former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman David Camp’s tax reform...more
Congressional appropriators released the details of the FY15 funding bill (the “Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act,” or “Cromnibus”) on December 9, 2014, funding the federal government at $1.013 trillion...more
Three events occurred during 2013 that have the potential to significantly affect angel investment around the country: (1) the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) lifted the prohibition on general solicitation for...more
9/29/2014
/ Accredited Investors ,
Angel Investors ,
Capital Gains ,
Dodd-Frank ,
Due Diligence ,
General Solicitation ,
JOBS Act ,
Popular ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulation D ,
Rule 144A ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Startups ,
Tax Exemptions
The U.S. Supreme Court on April 2 struck down an aggregate cap on individual contributions over a two-year election cycle to federal candidates, parties and political committees. (McCutcheon v. Fed. Election Comm’n, 572 U.S....more
The K&L Gates Public Policy and Law Group (“Policy Group”) has prepared a legislative and regulatory outlook for 2014 with the purpose of identifying potential risks and opportunities for stakeholders. Conventional wisdom...more
On November 29, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued proposed rules, “Guidance for Tax-Exempt Social Welfare Organizations on Candidate-Related Political Activities” (78 Fed. Reg. 71535-71542 (Nov. 29, 2013)),...more
On August 13, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit took the rare step of granting a Petition for Writ of Mandamus compelling the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”) to resume the licensing...more