Big Law, Free Speech Groups Advise DOJ on Foreign Lobbying Rules

Big Law, humanitarian nonprofits, progressive legal organizations, and free-speech groups are all attempting to influence Justice Department plans to revise a foreign lobbyist disclosure law.

Responding to the department’s request for input in advance of any proposed rule, they asked DOJ to clarify, streamline, narrow, and in some cases expand the regulatory requirements under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

The statute, which has been increasingly enforced in the aftermath Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, mandates that people in the U.S. engaged in particular activities on behalf of foreign principals must periodically disclose their activities.

Attorneys for law firms Wiggin ...