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James A. Kahl
PARTNER; CO-CHAIR OF ASSOCIATIONS, NONPROFITS AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS SECTION
WASHINGTON
T: 202.659.6775
M: 703.307.3646
F: 202.327.6138
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Mr. Kahl represents corporations, trade associations, advocacy groups, and tax-exempt organizations, as well as political action committees (PACs), ballot committees and other political committees, regarding federal and state campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics laws and regulations. With an extensive background working in and practicing before federal agencies, he helps clients navigate the complex regulatory maze that impacts political activity.
Here are just some of the ways that Mr. Kahl helps Whiteford’s clients:
The entirety of his legal career has involved representing clients before or serving in senior legal positions in U.S. government agencies. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Kahl 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 advising the FEC in connection with rulemakings, advisory opinions, and audits of political committees.
Prior to that, Mr. Kahl was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Hopkins & Sutter, served as the principal deputy to the General Counsel at the Small Business Administration, and was the number two-ranking official at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel – the agency that enforces whistleblower protection laws and the Hatch Act across the federal government. On a daily basis, Fortune 100 companies, major trade and professional organizations, and other entities and individuals engaged in political activities turn to Mr. Kahl for practical and cost-effective political law compliance advice and solutions. He is a frequent speaker and author on political law issues. Mr. Kahl also filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the prevailing party in the landmark case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
Author: “What You Need to Know About the FEC’s Prior Approval Rule,” American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), October 14, 2022
Presenter: “How State and Local Legislative/Regulatory Advocacy Can Build Association Value,” American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), August 22, 2022
Author: "Beware of Contingent Fee Restrictions When Your Association Hires a Lobbyist," American Society of Association Executives (May 3, 2022)
Panelist: "Ask Us Anything! Answering Your Lobbying Compliance Questions," Webinar (June 3, 2021)
Author: "Good Counsel: Agents, Principals, and Fara Risks," Associations Now (November 1, 2020)
Presentation: "Corporate and Association Political Activity: 2020 Pre-Election Compliance Tips," Webinar, (October 2020)
Quoted: "Balance Free Expression and Office Harmony in an Election Year," ASAE (2016, updated October 2020)
Presentation: "Corporate and Association Political Activity: Key 2020 Compliance Issues," Webinar, (March 2020)
Presentation: "Exempt Organizations 2019 Year in Review and Key Compliance Issues for the 2020 Election Year," Association of Corporate Counsel National Capital Region Webinar (February 2020)
Presentation: "Election Year Political Law Compliance Issues for Charitable Organizations," Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (January 2020)
Presentation: "Exploring the Opportunities and Risks of Political Activity," ASAE Association Law Symposium (June 2019)
Author: "Nonprofit Lobbying: The Rules You Need to Know," ASAE (February 2017)
Presentation: "Supporting Candidates, Growing Your PAC & Increasing the Effectiveness of Your Government Affairs Program" ASAE (May 2016)
Author: "Election 2016: Know the Rules for Supporting Candidates," ASAE (March 2016)
Author "Citzens United, Super PACs, and Corporate Spending on Political Campaigns: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?" The Federal Lawyer (June 2012)
Author "Managing Risks of Corporate Political Activity," Staffing Success (November/December 2009)
Author "FEC Must Protect Commerical Speech From the Excesses of McCain-Feingold Bill," Advertising Age (October 15, 2007)
In an opinion released on August 3rd, US District Court Judge Beryl Howell greatly expanded the FEC donor disclosure reporting requirements for independent groups – like Section 501(4) and 501(c)(6) organizations – that sponsor independent expenditures and other candidate advocacy communications. The court delayed the implementation of its ruling for 45 days to give the FEC time to draft interim rules.
Nonprofit organizations are often overly cautious in speaking out about their causes and interacting with candidates in election years for fear of violating a complex set of laws and rules. You can and should participate in the election-year conversation. Here’s how.
On July 16, 2018, the IRS announced that it has eliminated the requirement for most nonprofit organizations to provide confidential donor information to the IRS on Schedule B to their annual IRS Form 990. Although limited in scope and with no impact on public transparency, the change has significant political ramifications and has ignited a firestorm of support and condemnation across the political spectrum. This includes a partisan Senate Finance Committee vote and delay in the Senate confirmation vote on the new IRS Commissioner.
DC Partner Jim Kahl and Nancy Bukar, Sodexo Vice President of Government Affairs & Assistant General Counsel, co-presented to The Association of Corporate Counsel (National Capital Region) in a webcast last Tuesday on “Election Year Corporate Political Activity: Understanding the Legal Risks and Strategic Opportunities.”
A recent article in Associations Now features DC-based political Law partners Jim Kahl and Jeff Altman. “Whether you see an opportunity to advance your agenda or a need to defend members’ interests, it’s wise to reexamine your government relations strategy right now,” says Kahl. “What we know now is that a Republican majority means organizations need to be ready to respond to bills immediately,” says Altman. “With the new Congress, legislation will be passed very quickly.”
The Federal Election Commission has made minor adjustments to some of the individual and PAC contribution limits for the 2017-2018 election cycle. The amount that individuals and non-multicandidate PACs can give to federal candidates remains at $2700 per election to each federal candidate. Since primary and general election contests are viewed as separate “elections,” an individual or a non-multicandidate PAC may contribute a total of $5400 to a federal candidate. The $5,000 per year individual contribution limit to PACs is also not affected.
Topics Include:
Elections pose abundant opportunities for associations to support candidates aligned with members' interests. But the law governing election-related activities by associations has shifted drastically in recent years. Before your organization supports or opposes political candidates, be sure you know the rules.
Another election year is upon us, and once again federal and state candidates are on track to raise and spend unprecedented sums for their election efforts. That means corporations, trade associations, 501(c)(4) advocacy organizations, their political action committees (“PACs”), leaders, members and donors will be inundated with political contribution requests. They may also be asked to help candidates and political parties in other ways, such as hosting fundraisers or providing in-kind contributions of goods or services.
What You Need To know About the FEC's Prior Approval Rule
Protecting Against Increased Antitrust Risks in a More Aggressive Enforcement and LItigation Environment
O-1 Visa Issues
State Mandated Retirement Plans
Attorney Spotlight-Mark Franco
Beware of Contingent Fee Restrictions When Your Association Hires a Lobbyist
IRS Clarifies Royalty Income Considerations for Job Board Revenue
Responding to Exam Security Breaches
Virginia Exempts Property of Certain Charitable Single Member LLCs from Taxation
Employment Offer Letters
Introducing New ANPO Attorneys at Whiteford
Tax Reminder for Organizations
Recent and Upcoming Interviews
Upcoming Ask Us Anything! Session
On January 13, WTP hosted a webinar on "Federal Lobbying & Ethics Rules in 2017: Is Your Organization Ready?"
Washington, DC -- Whiteford Taylor & Preston announced today that nationally recognized political law attorney James A. Kahl has joined the firm and will reside in its Washington, DC, office. Mr. Kahl joins Whiteford Taylor with significant experience in both the public and private sectors.
