Creating a Compliance Plan

Being involved in government affairs can be very helpful for a company or association – a favorable legislative climate, a regulation that provides a competitive advantage, or a beneficial tax treatment are all common government affairs objectives that can directly increase the bottom line. But, there are risks that come from the regulations governing the interaction with government officials. In addition, a number of activist shareholders and so-called “good government” groups have pressed companies to adopt robust policies around their political activities. Building on the substantive topics covered in other programs, this session, presented by Ronald Jacobs, co-chair of Venable’s Political Law Group, along with associate Alexandra Megaris examines practical ways to implement a government affairs compliance program.

Learning Objectives:

I.    Create a political compliance policy to fend off shareholder efforts to control government affairs activities.

II.   Invent political compliance procedures for employees and consultants to track lobbying activities

III.  Design procedures governing political giving by a PAC and corporation (and employees if the company is subject to pay-to-play laws)

IV.  Develop a policy on who may lobbying, what approvals are needed, and who may speak on behalf of the company