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King & Spalding

King & Spalding

More information

United States • Government

2

Government relations

King & Spalding fields a team of experienced professionals in its special matters and government investigations practice, supporting a range of corporate, non-profit, and trade association clients in their interactions with government. The team includes five former members of Congress, and has experience across energy, financial services, technology, and telecom matters, among others. At the helm of the team, Thomas Spulak focuses his practice on strategy development and compliance advice. J.C. Boggs is praised for his ‘invaluable’ ’ability to make contact with the right/best person on The Hill’, regularly representing financial services and technology sector clients before both domestic and international policymakers at all levels. For international trade, foreign regulatory issues, and foreign asset recovery efforts, particularly with regard to Latin America, Steve Kupka is recommended. All team members are based in Washington DC.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘J.C Boggs' ability to make contact with the right/best person on The Hill is invaluable to my business.’

  • ‘They think like business people and lawyers, not just focused on the abstract legal.'

  • ‘I have hired over 100 lobbyists at all levels (federal, state and local) government throughout my career. Three things stand out about King and Spalding’s government relations practice: depth, achievement, and approachability.'

  • 'K&S tend hire very accomplished, noteworthy government leaders. Those individuals are back stopped via a team that is very experienced in how to operate within the government environment.'

  • 'Some firms will snowplow an issue, such that even if you achieve a desired outcome, you have antagonized so many people in the government it creates a “hangover” effect. King and Spalding operates with an elegance that comes from having long, genuine, relationships in government that allows them to get things done in a collaborative fashion.'

  • 'I have never - in 30 years of hiring lawyers and lobbyists - ever had someone who is more genuinely concerned with my business and more immediately responsive. It is a notable trend among their partnership, they will always be my first stop moving forward.'

Key clients

  • Makana Therapeutics
  • Padron Cigars
  • Acadia Healthcare

Work highlights

Advised the largest US controlled ocean shipper with regards to the Chinese made vessels in its fleet, shielding the client from financial penalties that would have been imposed had the US trade representatives’ Section 301 investigation involving Chinese made vessels been enacted. We built a coalition of members of Congress, presented strong arguments and convinced the USTR to drop the penalty provision. The USTR’s final action was a complete victory for our client.
Retained by Padron Cigars to seek a legislative solution to prevent the US Food & Drug Administration from promulgating a regulation that would impose significant financial burdens on the premium cigar industry and significantly limit its ability to introduce new products.
Continuing to lead the MASS Coalition legislative and regulatory advocacy strategy to develop a physician payment rate that works for patients, Medicare, providers, and skin substitute community.
Practice head

Thomas Spulak

Other key lawyers

J.C. Boggs; David Farber; Steve Kupka