Campaign finance, election, and lobbying laws involve complex provisions and associated regulations requiring knowledgeable and experienced attorneys.
Clients who want to become involved in Michigan's political process need attorneys who are conversant with Michigan’s intricate laws regulating the financing of campaigns, the disclosure of lobbying activities, and the conduct of elections.
The experience and expertise of our attorneys has given us the distinction of authoring the Michigan chapter of Lobbying, PACs, and Campaign Finance: A Fifty State Handbook, a legal resource issued by West Group, the legal publishing giant. This book, which is updated annually, provides attorneys around the world with a general guide to each state's lobbying, PAC (political action committee) and campaign finance law.
Fraser Trebilcock Davis & Dunlap, P.C.'s attorneys are experienced in advising clients on complex compliance issues including the following: the permissibility of corporate/union contributions to candidates; the process for establishing PACs; the use of payroll deductions for PAC contributions; the use of corporate facilities for campaign appearances and fundraising; issue advertising; and lobbying registration requirements. They have also assisted clients in obtaining interpretive statements and declaratory rulings from the Department of State, the primary enforcement agency in Michigan on these matters. Our firm's expertise in election law includes that of a former Assistant Attorney General who represented the Michigan Department of State on election issues. Our competence extends beyond the requirements of state law, however, to include a thorough understanding of the campaign finance and lobbying law of the City of Detroit. Our lawyers have been at the forefront of litigation related to some of Michigan's more specialized limits on political activities. We filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of an overly broad statutory prohibition on campaign spending by casino owners and suppliers, and their employees and families. That lawsuit eventually led to an Attorney General opinion preventing the implementation of the law's most restrictive provisions.
SCG. Because of our firm's recognized expertise in governmental and administrative law, we are the Michigan representative to the State Capital Group (SCG). The SCG is an international association of law firms, one from each of the capital cities of the 50 states, the provincial capitals of Canada, and other key cities throughout the world, who practice independently, and not in a relationship for the joint practice of law. Through the SCG, we have the opportunity to share information and resources that help us to better serve our respective clients. David E.S. Marvin, a senior shareholder with our firm, is a former chairman and current member of the Board of Directors of this worldwide group.
