Judgment informed by experience. These words are at once the hallmark of Drinker Biddle's Government Relations professionals and the primary resource we bring to bear on behalf of our clients.  We provide practical, real world insight into the motivations of government regulators and legislators, as well as the decision making processes that can affect our clients' business.

Drinker Biddle's Government & Regulatory Affairs lawyers and professionals counsel business clients, ranging in size from emerging entities to Fortune 50 companies, primarily in focused practice areas, including antitrust, appropriations, communications, education, health care, intellectual property, and tribal governments.  In these particular areas, deep industry focus provides a central part of our governmental affairs counseling and representation. Our work encompasses representation of clients before regulators, analysis and advocacy in the development of legislation and associated regulation, and, where necessary, litigation.  Our client representation ranges broadly from significant legislative and regulatory activity on behalf of clients interested in state and local matters to representation before Congress and federal regulatory agencies. 

Legislation.  We provide our clients counsel in formulating strategies for responding to legislative initiatives and in effectuating legislative change. These services include preparation of testimony before legislative committees, drafting of legislative and report language and providing introductions for our clients to Members of Congress, state legislators and their staffs.  We also regularly monitor legislative developments on issues affecting our firm's clients, providing them with timely insight regarding the legislative process.  From providing legal analyses of pending legislation to coordinating concerted efforts by industry groups, companies, and other interested parties, our skilled advocates give our clients a voice in the legislative process.

Advocacy in Administrative Rulemaking.  Once legislation is enacted into law, it is essential to ensure that it is appropriately implemented by the relevant government agency.  We regularly work with state and federal regulators on behalf of our clients to develop sound governmental policy without creating undue burdens on our clients' industries.  To that end, we actively participate in rulemaking and other administrative proceedings.  Such representation often includes both written filings and oral presentations before regulators and their staff.

Litigation.  Sometimes public officials take actions that exceed their authority and that must be challenged in a court of law. Our Government Relations litigation team provides experienced and sophisticated advice and representation in complex matters based on its understanding of the legal, political, and practical factors involved in the resolution of such disputes. Also, our Government Relations lawyers regularly prepare analyses of legislative history and advise on the legislative process in connection with litigation.

Campaign Finance.  Many of our firm's clients are involved in the governmental and political processes at both the state and federal levels.  We provide our clients with in-depth legal counsel on campaign finance laws and regulations, as well as advice on other federal and state provisions protecting the ethical relationship between the private sector and government officials.  This advice extends to partnerships, corporations, their individual employees, as well as to corporate and non-corporate political action committees.