Government Affairs

Election Law

Preti's Government Affairs Practice Group contains several of northern New England's most experienced Election Law attorneys. For decades, our team has been a leader in solving legal issues surrounding political campaigns and the election process. We have served as counsel to numerous high-profile presidential congressional, gubernatorial and legislative campaigns in addition to having represented political parties and political action committees (PACs) across the ideological spectrum.

Daniel Walker and our team of Election Law attorneys have represented political parties such as the Maine Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee on election and political law issues ranging from constitutional rights to state ethics violations.

We are actively involved in the following areas during the legislative cycle:

Campaign Committee and PAC Formation
Our election attorneys form campaign committees and political action committees (PACs) to ensure that early steps in our clients' campaigns are managed quickly and accurately to provide a solid basis for their political venture. Getting these processes right avoids potential controversies later.

Ballot Access
When political campaigns face uncertainty or strategic challenges caused by ballot access laws, our Election Law attorneys are ready to step in. We have represented national and state-level political parties with legal disputes pertaining to candidacy registration, signature gathering, petition rules and ballot access appeals. In 2010, Preti Flaherty successfully defended The Democratic National Committee and the Maine Democratic Party against former presidential candidate Ralph Nader by challenging his right to be on the ballot after inspecting his 2004 campaign petitions.

Campaign Finance and Compliance
Federal and state campaign fundraising reporting requirements have grown increasingly complicated over the last two decades. Preti Flaherty's Election Law attorneys understand the intricacies of complying with these regulations and work with clients to ensure that these procedures are completed accurately and on time throughout the campaign process.

Violation of Election Regulations
Campaign violations can be detrimental to a candidate or political party – both during and after the campaign process. When a campaign violates an election regulation, ethics law or disclosure law, it is critical to respond quickly. Our Election Law attorneys represent clients before state ethics commissions, elections law enforcement agencies, and if necessary, the court system, to defend our political clients' interests or keep the campaign on track.

Recount Law
Campaign victories are often contested when a losing candidate requests a recount. Preti Flaherty's Election attorneys have overseen dozens of recounts and have represented clients whose business initiatives have been challenged by opponents who demanded a referendum recount. On either side of the issue, we assertively protect our client's interests during these long, detail-oriented proceedings.

Choosing a campaign's counsel, whether for a discrete matter or for the entire campaign process, is a decisive factor in achieving success at the polls. Preti Flaherty's Election Law attorneys are skilled at guiding candidates, committees, political parties or PACs through the complex legal issues involved in an election season.

Firm Highlights

News

Remembering Preti Flaherty Founder Robert F. Preti

We at Preti Flaherty are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our founding partners and longtime friend, Robert Preti. Bob was not just a part of our firm; he was a part...

News

Preti Flaherty Welcomes Employment Law Attorney Brooke K. Haley to the Firm

Preti Flaherty is pleased to announce that attorney Brooke K. Haley has joined the firm’s Employment Law Practice Group as a Partner. Brooke will work primarily from the firm’s Portland office. Brooke’s practice centers...

Press Coverage

Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting Wins Public Records Dispute with York County Jail

News

David Van Slyke Reappointed by Governor Mills to New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission

Van Slyke is one of five Commissioners from the state of Maine overseeing NEIWPCC PORTLAND—Preti Flaherty’s Managing Partner, David Van Slyke, has been reappointed by Governor Janet T. Mills to the New England Interstate...

Publication

Maine Workers’ Compensation Update - November 2023

The following is an overview of developments with respect to proposed legislation as well as new procedures on independent contractor determinations, medical fee schedule updates, and the use of updated Board forms, including medical...

Press Coverage

Bangor Releases Unredacted Files on Effort to Close Homeless Encampment

Following a five-month effort by local media, represented by attorney Sigmund Schutz, chair of Preti Flaherty's Media Law Practice Group, the City of Bangor finally released unredacted records related to its attempts to close a...

Press Coverage

Maine Media Organizations Oppose Foreign Electioneering Ban

Question 2 on Maine’s November ballot asserts that corporations owned or controlled by foreign governments do not have the same rights to political speech as companies here in the U.S. and that foreign governments should be prohibited...

Publication

FRBP 9006 Doesn't Take Vacations

Bodie Colwell of Preti Flaherty’s Creditors' Rights & Bankruptcy Group, has authored the article "FRBP 9006 Doesn't Take Vacations," appearing in the October 2023 issue of the American Bankruptcy Institute's Young & New Members Committee newsletter...

Event

Eric Osterberg Presents Webinar on IP Rights and Infringement With Podcasts and Livestreaming

Eric Osterberg joins a panel of industry experts to present “IP Rights and Infringement With Podcasts and Livestreaming.” The panel focuses on guiding intellectual property counsel on the IP issues that arise when creating...

Publication

November 7, 2023 Election Results

Maine’s November 2023 statewide elections were exclusively referendum questions, four were citizen initiatives, and four were proposed amendments to the Maine Constitution. Of these, Questions 5, 7 and 8 were placed on the ballot...