US Hints at Curbing Foreign Agent Registration Exemptions

The Justice Department has indicated it’ll soon propose revising foreign lobbying disclosure obligations in a manner lawyers interpret as a dramatic shift for companies and nonprofits that have long relied on exemptions.

A DOJ official’s remarks at a recent conference prompted attendees to warn clients—particularly US subsidiaries of overseas companies—about an upcoming rule change under the 1938 foreign transparency law. The practitioners view the official’s comments to mean a wide swath of companies may be forced to begin registering as “foreign agents” and file detailed public reports.

The Dec. 1 remarks from Jennifer Gellie, who oversees Foreign Agents Registration Act ...