The government law and strategies group at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP ‘stands out for integrating legal and policy perspectives into actionable strategies’, providing bipartisan, bicameral support for clients in their regulatory and policy challenges. The team is growing its strength across the national security, dual-use, and DefenseTech space, including through gaining Ya’ara Barnoon from the Department of Defense in August 2025. It is also recommended for congressional investigations work, representing companies, higher education institutions, and executives under investigation. Craig Saperstein heads the practice, combining ’strategic insight with excellent advocacy skills’ for clients across the financial services, international trade, and healthcare industries. For cybersecurity-related matters, Brian Finch is a go-to, providing particular expertise with regard to SAFETY Act liability protections. Team members based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'Pillsbury’s Government Relations practice is distinguished by its deep policy expertise, strategic insight, and collaborative approach. In our work with them, they effectively navigated complex federal and state regulatory environments while anticipating political and policy developments that could impact the initiative.'
- 'The team stands out for integrating legal and policy perspectives into actionable strategies, aligning government engagement with organizational objectives. They are highly responsive, communicate clearly, and leverage collaborative tools to ensure key stakeholders remain informed and aligned.'
- 'Compared with other firms, Pillsbury consistently combines practical advocacy, legal expertise, and thoughtful innovation—including structured strategy sessions and targeted outreach—to advance high-profile projects efficiently and with confidence.’
‘The individuals I have worked with at Pillsbury consistently stand out for their expertise, judgment, and collaborative approach.'
- 'Craig Saperstein combines strategic insight with excellent advocacy skills, providing thoughtful guidance that integrates legal, policy, and operational perspectives.'
- 'What sets these partners apart from competitors is their ability to anticipate challenges, communicate clearly, and align government relations strategies with broader organizational goals. I have valued their professionalism, accessibility, and proactive engagement, which consistently helps advance our initiatives efficiently and with confidence.’
Key clients
- Hyundai Steel
- George Washington University
- Blackhawk Network
- The AI Trust Foundation for Safe & Beneficial AI
- Port City Air
- Gigamon Inc.
- Censys Inc.
- Gorilla Technologies
- Mindshare Holdings
- Professional Certification Coalition
- Bemol Retail SRL
- Association of Cyprus Banks
- Asterra USA
- Censys Inc
- Civan Lasers
- Israel Aerospace Industries
- Pixels on Target
- Quantifind
- Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
- Rivulis North America
Work highlights
Led the bipartisan drive for the Professional Certification Coalition (PCC) that made the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act law, the biggest 529 expansion in years in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Representing Hyundai Steel in connection with its plans to develop a landmark US manufacturing facility.
Secured the unprecedented release of American lawyer James Wang from a Cambodian prison.
Practice head
Craig Saperstein
Other key lawyers
Brian Finch; Matthew Oresman; Aimee Ghosh; Ya'ara Barnoon