Don't Get Scrooged: Remember To Follow Holiday Ethics Rules

Christopher "Chris" DeLacy is a Partner in our Washington, D.C. office .

'Tis the season for holiday cheer, but before you grab that cookie or accept a holiday gift, you should take a moment to contemplate whether it complies with applicable ethics rules. While this may cause you to say "bah, humbug!" the truth is that even an inadvertent holiday ethics violation can come back to haunt you like the Ghost of Christmas Past. In fact, many common holiday courtesies can run afoul of ethics rules when members of Congress, their staffs, and other government officials are involved. The good news is that, with some advance planning, many holiday traditions can conform to both the holiday spirit and the ethics rules.