Lawyer Bio : Lawrence H. Norton

Larry Norton counsels clients on government regulation of political activity, including federal and state campaign finance, government ethics, and lobbying laws. He helps clients identify opportunities to achieve electoral and public policy goals, guides them through complex regulatory schemes, and represents them in interactions with government agencies.

From 2001 through 2007, Larry served as General Counsel of the Federal Election Commission. He and former Deputy General Counsel, James A. Kahl, who also practices in Womble Carlyle's Washington office, led the 130-person Office of General Counsel in conducting investigations, advising the FEC in connection with rulemakings and Advisory Opinions, overseeing all of the FEC's litigation, and counseling on issues relating to FEC audits and federal funding of Presidential primary and general elections. During their tenure, Larry and Jim oversaw the drafting of regulations that implement all provisions of the landmark Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 ("BCRA," also known as McCain-Feingold), overhauled the enforcement program, and led the FEC's legal team in the successful defense of BCRA in the Supreme Court case of McConnell v. FEC. As General Counsel of the FEC, he was responsible for overseeing the agency's FOIA program, and advising agency officials on the handling of FOIA requests. He also oversaw substantial revisions to the agency's policies and practices for handling FOIA requests, and directed litigation in FOIA matters.

Larry has over twenty years of experience in all aspects of government regulation, including policy and rulemaking, investigations, and litigation. Prior to his appointment as General Counsel of the FEC, Larry managed enforcement programs at two other federal agencies – the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. In those positions, Larry provided training for state officials, federal prosecutors, FBI agents (Academy at Quantico), and international regulators. He also participated as agency representative on the Department of Justice's Task Force on Telemarketing and Internet Fraud, and the Consumer Protection Initiatives Committee of the United States Attorney General's Council on White Collar Crime. Before joining the federal government, Larry handled complex civil litigation for the Maryland Attorney General's Office, and commercial litigation for the Venable law firm.

Larry is a frequent speaker on issues relating to election law, consumer protection, and financial fraud. He has addressed bar associations, media, and business groups, including the American Bar Association, Practicing Law Institute, American Conference Institute, Council on Governmental Ethics Laws, and the American Association of Advertising Agencies. Larry has also appeared on a variety of radio and television news programs, including CNN, National Public Radio, and CNBC.

With an insider's perspective, Larry is in a unique position to represent all participants in the political process, including corporations and their PACs, trade associations, tax-exempt organizations, public officials, candidates and their authorized committees, mass media firms, and individuals.

In 2010, Larry was appointed to Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler’s Advisory Committee on Campaign Finance, a bipartisan task force charged with examining and recommending changes in Maryland’s campaign finance laws.

Larry was named by Washingtonian Magazine (2007, 2009) as one of the top lawyers in Washington, D.C. He is co-author of Political GPS: Womble Carlyle's Political Law Blog.