Janice M. Ryan is an experienced general counsel to tax-exempt organizations, specializing in lobbying and political activities compliance. Janice counsels advocacy groups, charities, associations, political organizations, and businesses on the full spectrum of legal issues related to their efforts to influence public policy and elections.
She is adept at delivering creative solutions to complex problems and providing pragmatic day-to-day general counseling tailored to her clients’ specific needs and goals.
Janice’s clients appreciate her accessibility and responsiveness, and her ability to bring together and manage the right team of attorneys within the firm to solve the problem at hand, providing her clients with seamless, full-service legal support.
Janice serves as outside general counsel and political counsel to several prominent 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations engaged in high-profile nationwide issue advocacy campaigns and efforts to influence elections. She also advises federal and state super PACs, candidates, and corporate and association PACs.
Experience :
- Legislative Aide, United States Senate, Office of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
- Represents major gun safety advocacy organization, providing ongoing general counseling, including advising on lobbying and political activities compliance, tax-exempt status matters, contracts, branding, fundraising, governance, and volunteer and affiliate relationships
- Represents fiscal sponsor of innovative nonprofit advocacy projects engaged in fast-paced, high-profile grassroots campaigns to influence public policy and elections ($30+ million in 2017-2018)
- Advises one of nation’s 50 largest law firms on partnership contributions and lobbying disclosure, and successfully represented another top-50 law firm in FEC investigation involving allegations of illegal, in-kind contributions
- Serves as general counsel to candidates for U.S. Congress and potential presidential candidates, advising on the FEC’s “testing-the-waters” regulations, personal financial disclosure statements, coordination with outside parties, and other complex rules
- Counseled social welfare organization operating ballot committees in multiple states with committee formation, reporting, advertising review, and ongoing state campaign finance compliance
- Assisted a nonprofit social welfare organization with mission-related investments, managing legal team to form for-profit subsidiary entities and acquire for-profit companies
Education :
- J.D. summa cum laude Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law 2008
- A.B. Dartmouth College 2000
Bar Admissions : District of Columbia, Maryland
Court Admissions : U.S. Tax Court
Professional Memberships :
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Maryland State Bar Association
Cost
Rate : $$$