Matthew T. Sanderson is a co-leader of the Political Law Group and a Member in the Exempt Organizations Group.
Mr. Sanderson has been recognized repeatedly in Super Lawyers and Chambers USA, where clients noted that he "is extremely thorough, looks at all the angles, and gives the best advice you can get in the market."
Services
Mr. Sanderson helps corporations, political committees, lobbying firms, law firms, candidates, and advocacy groups comply with the complex federal, state, and local laws that govern political activity, including campaign finance, "pay-to-play," government ethics, and lobbying disclosure regulations. Mr. Sanderson also advises clients on the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and defends parties before the Department of Justice and Congress that face FARA-related inquiries.
Highlights
Mr. Sanderson has served as counsel to Senator Rand Paul, Senator John McCain, Governor Rick Perry, Senator Mitt Romney, Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., and many other candidates for national office. He was a legal consultant for Netflix’s hit series House of Cards and received the Peabody Award, alongside Stephen Colbert’s The Colbert Report team, for efforts related to the “Colbert Super PAC.” Mr. Sanderson was also a founder of PlayoffPAC, which was nominated for Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year award for its work in bringing down college football's prior post-season system, the Bowl Championship Series.
Mr. Sanderson is the co-editor of Thomson Reuters’ legal treatise on political law, a member of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Election Law, a co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Task Force on the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and an Adjunct Faculty Member at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he teaches an advanced course on campaign finance regulation. He serves as editor of FARA.us, a comprehensive online resource of information about the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Mr. Sanderson is frequently quoted on political matters in national media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Associated Press. He is also a Trustee for the American Council of Young Political Leaders, a nonprofit that connects rising political leaders in the U.S. and around the world.
Mr. Sanderson is a graduate of the University of Utah and Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was a Chancellor's Scholar. He speaks Mandarin and has four children with his wife, Emily.
Speaking Engagements
- Chair, 2nd Annual National Forum on FARA - Foreign Agents Registration Act, American Conference Institute, December 4, 2020
- Speaker, Cease and Desist Rockin': Musicians' Rights and Political Campaigns, Columbia Law School, October 8, 2020
- Presenter, Avoiding Trouble Under FARA, The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics, October 5, 2020
- Panelist, New Sheriff in Town: The US Department of Justice's Increased Enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, ABA Section of International Law, 2020 ILS Virtual Annual Meeting, June 15, 2020
- Presenter, Avoiding Trouble Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics, January 24, 2020
- Chair, National Forum on FARA, American Conference Institute, September 25, 2019
- Speaker, Foreign Agents Registration Act: A New Era of Enforcement, Thomson Reuters, April 10, 2019
- Panelist, Money, Disclosure & Free Speech: Can There be Too Much?, Elections: Where Law & Politics Intersect, Journal of Law & Politics, March 5, 2019
- Speaker, Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA): Compliance Objectives for U.S. Entities, Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, November 19, 2018
- Speaker, Campaign Finance in the 2014 Election and in the Future, West LegalEdcenter, Webinar, November 10, 2014
- Speaker, Best Practices in Corporate Political Activity, West LegalEdcenter, Webinar, October 13, 2014
- Speaker, Best Practices in Corporate Political Activity, West LegalEdcenter, Webinar, October 13, 2014
- Speaker, Effective Advocacy in Washington, Even Without a PAC, West LegalEdcenter, Webinar, September 15, 2014
- Speaker, Engaging with Government: Recent Trends in Political Law, Society for Corporate Compliance and Ethics, Web Conference, September 10, 2014
- Speaker, The New ‘Super PAC'?: All You Ever Wanted to Know About Joint Fundraising Committees, Caplin & Drysdale, April 11, 2014
- Speaker, Campaign Finance After Citizens United: Colbert Super PAC and Other (Less Hilarious) Phenomena, Utah State Bar Annual Conference, July 20, 2013
- Speaker, Lessons from the Least Horrible Super PACs of 2012, Netroots Nation, 8th Annual Conference, June 22, 2013
- Presenter, Campaign Finance after Citizens United: A Primer on Super PACs and Corporate Political Activity, West LegalEdcenter and Westlaw GC, Webcast, May 8, 2012
Click here for a full list of speaking engagements.
Recent Publications
- "Trump's Legal Strategy is to Sue First and Ask Questions Later. That's Dangerous.,"
The Washington Post Op-Ed, November 13, 2020
- "BLOG: Department of Education Provides Further Information on Reporting of Foreign Gifts to U.S. Universities,"
with Olivia N. Marshall, www.FARA.us, June 4, 2020
- "COVID-19 Government "Re-Open" Advisory Groups Often Subject to Lobbying and Ethics Rules,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, May 6, 2020
- "BLOG: A History of the FARA Unit,"
with Olivia N. Marshall, www.FARA.us, May 5, 2020
- "Growing List of States and Localities Extend Lobbying Filing Deadlines in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 16, 2020
- "Businesses and Organizations Seeking Government Assistance in COVID-19 Crisis Should Pay Attention to "Procurement Lobbying" Rules,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 6, 2020
- "After Multiple Lawsuits, New Jersey Nonprofit Disclosure Law Permanently Enjoined,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, March 18, 2020
- "New Jersey Nonprofit Disclosure Law Temporarily Blocked By Federal Judge,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, October 3, 2019
- "Federal Judge Strikes Down New York Lobbying and Issue Advocacy Donor Disclosure Requirements,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, October 3, 2019
- "BLOG: DOJ Official Confirms that FARA is a "Top Priority","
www.FARA.us, September 27, 2019
- "Update on Nonprofit Donor Disclosure Requirements: IRS Tries Again,"
with William D. Fournier, Sharon P. Want, Meghan R. Biss, and Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, September 10, 2019
- "New Jersey Nonprofit Donor Disclosure Law Faces Lawsuit,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, August 5, 2019
- "Update on Nonprofit Donor Disclosure Requirements,"
with William D. Fournier, Sharon P. Want, Meghan R. Biss, and Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, August 1, 2019
- "Chicago Passes New Ordinance Repealing Nonprofit Exemption from Lobbying Rules,"
with Olivia N. Marshall and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, July 30, 2019
- "BLOG: Could The Fugees' Pras Michel Be Charged with a FARA Violation?,"
www.FARA.us, May 23, 2019
- "DOJ National Security Division Announces Significant Appointment and Shift on FARA Enforcement,"
with Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, March 7, 2019
- "Governor Inslee's Presidential Campaign Triggers New Risks for Investment Advisers,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, March 6, 2019
- "BLOG: Recent Developments in FARA: Michael Cohen Hearing,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, www.FARA.us, February 28, 2019
- "BLOG: Updates on Congressional Action on FARA Reform,"
with Olivia N. Marshall, Trevor Potter, and Bryson B. Morgan, www.FARA.us, February 20, 2019
- "BLOG: Recent FARA Development: Skadden Pays $4.6 Million in Settlement,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, www.FARA.us, February 15, 2019
- "BLOG: The Foreign Agents Registration Act: A Brief Plain-Language Guide,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, www.FARA.us, February 13, 2019
- "FEC Updates Contribution Limits for 2019-2020,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 7, 2019
- "BLOG: FAQs About Letters of Inquiry from the Department of Justice FARA Unit,"
with Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Olivia N. Marshall, www.FARA.us, January 22, 2019
- "New York's Comprehensive Lobbying Rules Set to Take Effect January 1, 2019,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, September 28, 2018
- "U.S. Supreme Court Denies Request for Stay of Ruling Requiring Nonprofit Donor Disclosure,"
with Trevor Potter, Douglas N. Varley, Sharon P. Want, and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, September 19, 2018
- "Federal District Court Vacates FEC Independent Expenditure Donor Disclosure Rule; Appeal Likely,"
with Trevor Potter, Douglas N. Varley, Sharon P. Want, and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, August 9, 2018
- "IRS Donor Disclosure Requirements Eliminated for Most Nonprofit Organizations,"
with William D. Fournier, Sharon P. Want, Meghan R. Biss, and Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, July 17, 2018
- "Justice Department Releases Foreign Agent Advisory Letters,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, June 11, 2018
- "An Overview of Political Advertising Policies for Google, Twitter, and Snapchat,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, May 21, 2018
- "An Overview of Facebook's Election-Related Disclosure Program for Advertisers,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, May 3, 2018
- "FEC Updates Contribution Limits for 2017-2018,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 2, 2017
- "President Trump Issues Executive Order on Ethics,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 1, 2017
- "SEC Fines 10 Investment Advisers for Pay-to-Play Violations,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, January 27, 2017
- "Office of Government Ethics Revises Executive Branch Gift Rules,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, November 18, 2016
- "Donald Trump and the 'Rigged' Election,"
The Hill, August 11, 2016
- "New York Passes New Legislation Affecting Political Activity at the Local and State Level,"
with Trevor Potter and Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, July 5, 2016
- "IRS Rules Against Deductibility of Charitable Donations Made as Part of PAC Matching Program,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 27, 2016
- "California Limits "Ride-Along" Lobbying Exception to Employees Who are Subject Matter Experts,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, March 24, 2016
- "California Enhances Lobbying Disclosure Requirements for Lobbyist Employers and "$5,000 Filers","
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, January 25, 2016
- "Political Intelligence Firm Fined $375,000, Underscoring Need to Tailor Insider Trading Policies to Interactions with Government,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, December 1, 2015
- "Carmen Group's $125,000 Penalty Latest in Increased Lobbying Disclosure Act Enforcement,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, August 31, 2015
- "FEC Updates Contribution Limits for 2015-2016,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 3, 2015
- "Increased Campaign Contribution Limits in 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, December 17, 2014
- "Caplin & Drysdale Comments on Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's Proposed Changes to "Pay-to-Play" Restriction,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, October 1, 2014
- "SEC Issues "Pay-to-Play" Penalty to Investment Adviser,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, June 26, 2014
- "U.S. Supreme Court Releases Opinion in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 2, 2014
- "Political Activity, Lobbying Laws, and Gift Rules Guide" (Book),
with Trevor Potter, West Publishing, 3d, 2013-2014 ed., January 1, 2014
- "Summary of New York's New Political Disclosure Rules for Nonprofits,"
with Trevor Potter, William M. Klimon, Bryson B. Morgan, and Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, June 21, 2013
- "Amended MSRB Rules G-37 and G-8 Require Enhanced Disclosure,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 4, 2013
- "GAO Report Highlights Concerns Over Political Intelligence Disclosure,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 4, 2013
- "FEC Increases Contribution Limits,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, January 30, 2013
- "SEC & Massachusetts Sanction Goldman Sachs $16 Million, Underscoring Need for Vigorous Compliance With Pay-to-Play Rules,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, September 27, 2012
- "DC Circuit Refuses to Stay Lower Court Ruling Requiring Disclosure of Funders of "Electioneering Communications","
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, May 15, 2012
- "President Obama Signs STOCK Act Into Law,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 5, 2012
- "Senate-Passed "STOCK Act" Requires "Political Intelligence Consultants" to Register and Report under Lobbying Disclosure Act,"
with Trevor Potter and Bryson B. Morgan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 7, 2012
- "The Gift Tax and Contributions to Section 501(c)(4) Organizations,"
with Douglas N. Varley, Trevor Potter, and Beth Shapiro Kaufman, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, July 11, 2011
- "The Gift Tax and Contributions to Section 501(c)(4) Organizations: Less than Meets the Eye?,"
with Douglas N. Varley, Trevor Potter, and Beth Shapiro Kaufman, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, June 14, 2011
- "The FEC Updates Contribution Limits,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 7, 2011
- "Federal Campaign Finance Law: A Primer for the Lobbyist,"
with Trevor Potter, ABA Lobbying Manual, January 3, 2011
- "House and Senate Respond to Citizens United Ruling,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 30, 2010
- "Schumer, Van Hollen Outline Legislative Response to Citizens United,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 12, 2010
- "Practical Impact and Longer Term Consequences of Citizens United v. FEC,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, January 25, 2010
- "The Conservative Case for College Football Reform,"
The Hill, January 6, 2010
- "Elections: Administrative Law Developments,"
with Trevor Potter, American Bar Association, January 1, 2010
- "Caplin & Drysdale Submits Comments to SEC on Proposed Pay to Play Law,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, October 8, 2009
- "Securities and Exchange Commission's Proposed Pay to Play Rule,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, October 1, 2009
- "Proposed SEC Pay-to-Play Rule Will Soon Be Available for Public Comment,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, July 22, 2009
- "Congress Issues Clarification on Conditions for Lobbyist Termination,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, June 22, 2009
- "Writing an Effective Corporate Political Activity Policy,"
with Trevor Potter, Political Activity Law Bulletin, June 11, 2009
- "White House Revises Ban on Stimulus Contacts,"
with Trevor Potter, Political Activity Law Bulletin, June 11, 2009
- "Hiring Former Federal Government Employees as Lobbyists,"
with Trevor Potter, Political Activity Law Bulletin, June 11, 2009
- "New Guidance on Lobbyist Reporting and Termination,"
with Trevor Potter, Political Activity Law Bulletin, June 11, 2009
- "SEC to Propose Pay-to-Play Rule for Investment Advisors in July,"
with Trevor Potter, Political Activity Law Bulletin, June 11, 2009
- "Analysis of Bill Clinton's Cybersquatting Loss,"
Election Law Blog, June 4, 2009
- "".Pol", a ".Com" for Political Candidates,"
CircleID, May 1, 2009
- "A Dot-Pol of Their Own,"
The Washington Post, April 11, 2009
- "Two Birds, One Stone: Reversing "Frontloading" by Fixing the Presidential Public Funding System,"
Virginia Journal of Law and Politics, April 9, 2009
- "GAO Report on Lobbying Disclosure,"
with Trevor Potter, Political Activity Law Alert: Important Recent Developments, April 6, 2009
- "Obama Administration Restricts Lobbying on Stimulus Spending,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, March 26, 2009
- "New FEC Registration Forms Available; Lobbyist PACs Must Amend by March 29, 2009,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, March 12, 2009
- "Important Recent Developments on Lobbyist PACs, Obama Executive Order and LDA Registration,"
with Trevor Potter, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 18, 2009
- "Disclosure Rules for Lobbyist Bundling,"
with Trevor Potter, Political Activity Law Bulletin, January 16, 2009
- "Gift Rules Applicable to Members and Staff of the 111th Congress,"
with Trevor Potter, Political Activity Law Bulletin, January 16, 2009
- "Recent Developments in State Pay-to-Play Law,"
with Trevor Potter, Political Activity Law Bulletin, January 16, 2009
- "Lobbyist Bundling of Campaign Contributions,"
ABA Lobbying Manuel, January 1, 2009
- "Candidates, Squatters and Gripers: A Primer on Political Cybersquatting and A Proposal for Reform,"
Election Law Journal, January 1, 2009
- "From Intent to Outcome: Balloting and Tabulation Around the World,"
ABA International Election Law Principles, October 1, 2008
- "Voodoo Economics: A Look Abroad for a Supply-Side Solution to America's Campaign Finance Riddle,"
Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, September 1, 2008
- "Money Adds New Dimension to 'Veepstakes',"
The Politico, December 5, 2007
Click here for a full list of publications.