Jeffrey J. Hunter

Partner

Phone number
(202) 342-8574

With deep experience and insights into political advocacy and its regulation, Jeff Hunter embodies the axiom that politics is the art of the possible. The counsel he provides to U.S. and global multinational corporations, nonprofits, law firms, and consulting firms enables them to accomplish their strategic objectives in ways that are both compliant and effective.

Ranked nationally as a leading practitioner for Political Law by Chambers USA and as a Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers Rising Star,” Jeff delivers proactive political law compliance counsel that minimizes the risk of inadvertent transgressions that could draw the unwanted scrutiny of federal regulators or state attorneys general. When investigations or enforcement actions threaten his clients’ interests, his credibility, productive working relationships with regulators, and understanding of their concerns and priorities facilitate swift and favorable resolutions.

Jeff represents a broad range of clients with diverse political interests and goals, from Fortune 500 companies to labor organizations, trade associations, and small businesses. Regardless of his client’s political affiliation, Jeff is known and valued for his ability to reduce complex problems to workable, actionable counsel that produces the right result.

Given the current political climate, Jeff’s practice has increasingly focused on representing clients in matters before the Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, and state enforcement authorities. This overlaps with Jeff’s work advising foreign-owned energy companies regarding federal and state disclosure regimes. Jeff is particularly well-versed in the nuanced laws, rules, and regulations that govern foreign direct investment in the U.S. energy sector generally and renewable energy in particular, including matters involving the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Jeff has also appeared as a speaker and written in national publications on the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). His work includes representation in DOJ FARA investigations, counseling clients in a broad range of industries, and obtaining favorable outcomes in prominent DOJ FARA Rule 2” Advisory Opinions.

Jeff also advises on PAC creation, operation, and reporting, political advertising disclosure rules, and responding to formal investigations and informal agency reviews at the federal and state levels.

Jeff’s clients reap the benefits of his subject matter expertise and practical advice, along with his loyalty, responsiveness, and demonstrated commitment to protecting their interests. These qualities have formed the foundation of enduring client relationships and led his clients to tell Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business that Jeff is a consummate professional and adviser” who has an in-depth knowledge of the matters we are involved in and is very attentive to current and possible commercial issues.”

I bring years of national campaign staff experience to my practice, augmenting legal analysis with a deep understanding of campaign and advocacy organizations’ operational needs.”

Represented multiple energy developers in resolutions of potential Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) violations.

Counseling clients regarding compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.

Representing clients before the Federal Election Commission, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Secretary of the U.S. Senate, U.S. Department of Justice and equivalent state agencies.

Assisting advocacy groups’ compliance with the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Election Commission political advertising regulations.

Providing political compliance counsel on campaign finance, lobbying disclosure and ethics rule compliance to leading companies in the entertainment, energy, communications, medical, pharmaceutical, transportation, automotive and public advocacy industries, as well as to 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) non-profits.

Forming Super PACs to support candidates for federal, state and local offices.

Implementing comprehensive federal and multistate political compliance systems.

Advising senior federal and state officials in the appointment and nomination processes, including financial disclosure and ethical screens.

Internal compliance audits.

General Accountability Office Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 audits.

Advising U.S. subsidiaries of UK businesses and U.S. organizations that do business in the UK, regarding the impact of the United Kingdom Bribery Act of 2010 on their U.S. operations.

Training client employees regarding federal gift rule limitations, campaign finance regulations and lobbying disclosure requirements.

Ranked nationally as a leading practitioner in the Political Law area by Chambers USA, 2021-2023.

Recognized by Super Lawyers as a Washington D.C. Rising Star, 2013, 2015 and 2016.