Lawyer Bio : James A. Kahl

Jim Kahl represents corporations, trade associations, advocacy groups, tax-exempt organizations, and political committees throughout the country regarding federal and state campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics laws and regulations. With an extensive background working in and practicing before federal agencies, Jim helps clients navigate the complex regulatory maze that impacts political activity. His practice encompasses: 

 

 

From 2002 to 2007, Jim served as Deputy General Counsel of the Federal Election Commission. There he helped lead the 130-person Office of General Counsel in conducting investigations of potential violations of campaign finance laws and regulations, advising the FEC in connection with rulemakings and advisory opinions, overseeing the FEC’s litigation in federal courts, and counseling on issues concerning audits and federal funding of presidential primary and general elections.

 

The entirety of Jim's legal career has involved representing clients before or serving in senior legal positions in U.S. government agencies. He practiced in the government contracts and regulatory fields for the first eleven years of his career, and was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Hopkins & Sutter. He also served as the principal deputy to the General Counsel at the Small Business Administration, the federal agency responsible for fostering the growth and development of small businesses. Finally, Jim was the number two-ranking official at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, the agency tasked with enforcing whistleblower protection and personnel laws, and the laws regulating political activity by federal employees.

 

Jim is a frequent speaker and author on political law issues. He also filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the prevailing party in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.  

 

Jim is co-author of Political GPS: Womble Carlyle's Political Law Blog.