Practice Areas
Education
- J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law; Patrick Wilson Scholar of Law
- B.A., Ohio Wesleyan University
Bar & Court Admissions
Jan Witold Baran
PARTNER202.719.7330
| jbaran@wileyrein.comMr. Baran, named by Washingtonian magazine as a “Top Campaign & Elections Lawyer” and one of the “Top 50 Lawyers” in Washington, DC, advises clients on all aspects of political law including federal, state and local campaign finance laws, government ethics requirements and lobbying laws. He has argued four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and has regularly appeared as a television and radio commentator, particularly with FOX News and NPR. During the 2000 Florida recount he served as a legal analyst for ABC News and abcnews.com. He is the author of the book, The Election Law Primer for Corporations, published by the American Bar Association and he co-chairs the Practising Law Institute’s annual Corporate Political Activities conference. Recognizing Mr. Baran among the top tier of practitioners in his field, Chambers USA recently called him “one of the best election lawyers in the U.S. with the most comprehensive knowledge of the law at both state and federal level.”
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Cases before U.S. Supreme Court: McConnell v. FEC, FEC v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee (II), Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee v. FEC (I), FEC v. DSCC and Common Cause v. Schmitt.
- Advises corporations, trade associations, political groups, PACs and individuals on compliance with the laws regulating institutional and personal political activity, lobbying, fundraising and contributions.
- Represents clients before the courts, Federal Election Commission (FEC), congressional ethics committees, the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) and state agencies.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Special Counsel, Office of the Attorney General, 2005 Statewide Virginia Election Recount.
- Member, Virginia Governor's Commission on Government Finance Reform (2001).
- General Counsel, Republican National Committee (1989-1992) and Bush for President Campaign (1988).
- Ambassador and Chairman, U.S. Delegation, World Administrative Radio Conference, Spain (1991-1992).
- Member, President's Commission on Federal Ethics Law Reform (1989).
- Executive Assistant, Federal Election Commission (1977-1979).
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
- American Bar Association (ABA).
ABA Joint Commission to Evaluate the Model Code of Judicial Conduct (2003-2007).
Chair, Task Force on International Election Standards, Section of International Law (2006).
Special Advisor, Standing Committee on Judicial Independence (2002-2005).
Commission on Public Financing of Judicial Campaigns (2000-2002).
Chair, Standing Committee on Election Law (1990-1993).
AFFILIATIONS
- National Advisory Board, University of Virginia, Journal of Law & Politics.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Named one of "Washington’s Top Lawyers" by Washingtonian magazine (2004, 2007, 2009) and one of the "Top 50 Lawyers" in Washington, DC (2004).
- Listed by Chambers USA as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" (2006-2009).
- Named one of DC's "Super Lawyers" by Super Lawyers magazine (2007-2009).
- Selected by Lawdragon as one of the 3,000 Leading Lawyers in America (2007).
- Recognized by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) and the National Association of Business Political Action Committees (NABPAC) with the establishment of the Jan Baran PAC Management Scholarship in 2007. The annual scholarship is awarded to a student in The George Washington University's PAC certificate program.
PUBLICATIONS
CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL- Pay-to-Play Laws: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
By Jan Witold Baran and D. Mark Renaud
September 2009 | PLI's Corporate Political Activities 2009: Complying with Campaign Finance, Lobbying & Ethics Laws Handbook
- Updated Guidance Regarding Communications with Registered Lobbyists About Recovery Act Funds
By Jan Witold Baran, Carol A. Laham, Caleb P. Burns and D. Mark Renaud
July 29, 2009
- The Second Time's a Charm: Revised and Re-Revised Guidance Regarding the Lobbying Disclosure Act
By Jan Witold Baran, Caleb P. Burns and D. Mark Renaud
July 2009 | Election Law News
- Supreme Court Suggests Possibility for Expanded Protection of Corporate Speech by Setting Citizens United for Reargument
By Jan Witold Baran, Thomas W. Kirby and Andrew G. Woodson
July 2009 | Election Law News
- Judging by Appearances: Revisions to the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges
By Jan Witold Baran and Robert L. Walker
May 2009 | Election Law News
- FEC Deadlocks on $2 for $1 PAC Charitable Matching Program
By Jan Witold Baran and Andrew G. Woodson
May 2009 | Election Law News
- Recovery Act: President Obama Restricts Lobbyist Activities
By Jan Witold Baran and D. Mark Renaud
May 2009 | Election Law News
- Campaign Finance Compliance
Ten Tips for Lobbyists
By Jan Witold Baran
March/April 2009 | ABA's Business Law Today
- President Obama Restricts Lobbyist Activities on Recovery Act
By Jan Witold Baran, Carol A. Laham, D. Mark Renaud, Caleb P. Burns and Robert L. Walker
March 24, 2009
- Bundle of Joy: The FEC's New Bundled Contribution Disclosure Rules
By Jan Witold Baran and Caleb P. Burns
March 2009 | Election Law News
- FEC Opinion Addresses Solicitations by Parent Corporation with Different Types of Subsidiaries
By Jan Witold Baran and Andrew G. Woodson
March 2009 | Election Law News
- Lobbyist Gifts to Obama Political Appointees: They Can’t Take It Anymore
By Jan Witold Baran and Robert L. Walker
March 2009 | Election Law News
- FEC Adopts Bundling Rules, But Has Yet to Issue the Necessary Interpretative Guidance
By Jan Witold Baran and D. Mark Renaud
January 2009 | Election Law News
- Pitfalls for Insurers’ Washington Representatives: Three Things to Keep in Mind
By Jan Witold Baran and Caleb P. Burns
January 2009 | Washington Perspective
SPEECHES
CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALLNEWS RELEASES
CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALLWashingtonian Magazine Dubs Richard E. Wiley a "Star of the Bar;" Names a Dozen Attorneys to its List of DC's "Top Lawyers"
November 24, 2009
Wiley Rein's Election Law Practice Rated among the Nation's Best; Jan W. Baran Recognized as "A Top-Notch Lawyer"
June 29, 2009
Wiley Rein Attorneys Recognized As "Super Lawyers"
March 23, 2009
GW’s Graduate School of Political Management and NABPAC Announce Jan Baran PAC Management Scholarship Recipient
March 2, 2009
IN THE NEWS
CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALLElection Law Chair Quoted on Declining Campaign Contributions from Earmark Beneficiaries
November 12, 2009 | The Wall Street Journal
Jan Baran Discusses White House Reimbursement of Presidential Travel Expenses
October 13, 2009 | The Washington Times
Jan Baran Quoted on Upcoming Supreme Court Re-argument in Campaign Finance Case
September 8, 2009 | Roll Call
Wiley Rein's Election Law Practice Chair Discusses FEC Ruling on Use of Campaign Funds to Pay Legal Bills
August 27, 2009 | The Associated Press
Jan Baran Comments on Republican and Democratic Fundraising
August 24, 2009 | National Review
Wiley Rein's Jan Baran Discusses Heightened Focus on Lobbying Reporting
August 4, 2009 | The Hill
Wiley Rein's Election Law Practice Chair Discusses Conflicts of House Ethics Committee Investigation
July 31, 2009 | The Washington Post
Wiley Rein's Jan Baran Quoted on Policy Group's Compliance with Ethics Rules
May 11, 2009 | Roll Call
Wiley Rein Election Law Chair Discusses Paying off Campaign Debts
April 9, 2009 | The Wall Street Journal
Jan Baran Comments on FEC Deadlocks
April 6, 2009 | Roll Call
Wiley Rein's Jan Baran Comments on Errors in Lobbying Firm's Campaign Finance Records
February 14, 2009 | The Washington Post
Election Law & Government Ethics Practice Chair Comments on Ethical Implications of the Annual Washington Mardi Gras
January 29, 2009 | The Times-Picayune
Jan Witold Baran Comments on Federal Bailout Restrictions
January 28, 2009 | The Washington Times
Wiley Rein's Jan Witold Baran Discusses FEC Public Hearings
January 14, 2009 | The Hill
Jan Witold Baran Weighs in on Challenges Facing the Senate Regarding Burris Appointment
January 4, 2009 | The Politico
Wiley Rein's Jan Witold Baran Is Quoted in a Newsday Article about Lobbyist Spouses of Political Appointees
December 16, 2008 | Newsday
Election Law & Government Ethics Chair Comments on U.S. Attorney’s Statement about Gov. Blagojevich Scandal
December 11, 2008 | The Washington Post
