Wiley Rein LLP


Jan Witold Baran
Practice Areas
Education
  • J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law; Patrick Wilson Scholar of Law
  • B.A., Ohio Wesleyan University
Bar & Court Admissions
  • District of Columbia Bar
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth, Tenth and District of Columbia Circuits

Jan Witold Baran

PARTNER

202.719.7330  |  jbaran@wileyrein.com


Mr. Baran, named by Washingtonian magazine as a “Top Campaigns & 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 often provides legal commentary to the media, appearing frequently on FOX News and NPR and serving as a legal analyst for ABC News during the 2000 Florida recount. Mr. Baran is the author of the book, The Election Law Primer for Corporations, published by the American Bar Association (ABA) and he co-chairs the Practising Law Institute’s annual Corporate Political Activities conference.

Chambers USA consistently recognizes Mr. Baran among the nation’s top tier of practitioners in the field, commending his “gravitas and expertise” and noting that clients describe him as "an innovative, thorough and passionate attorney” (2012). He has been called “one of the top figures in the political law sphere” (2011), “the dean of campaign finance” and “one of the best election lawyers in the U.S. with the most comprehensive knowledge of the law at both state and federal level” (2009), a view echoed by clients who commend him to Chambers for “his textured and informed view” (2010).


REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

  • Cases before U.S. Supreme Court: Citizens United v. FEC; McConnell v. FEC; FEC v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee (II); Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee v. FEC (I); FEC v. DSCC; Common Cause v. Schmitt.
  • Advises corporations, trade associations, political groups, political action committees (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).

AFFILIATIONS

  • 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).
  • National Advisory Board, University of Virginia, Journal of Law & Politics.

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Named one of Washington's "Best Lawyers" (2011), one of "Washington's Top Lawyers" (2004, 2007, 2009) and one of the "Top 50 Lawyers" in Washington, DC (2004) by Washingtonian magazine.
  • Listed by Chambers USA as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" in Political Law (2006-2012).
  • Named one of DC's "Super Lawyers" for Political Law by Super Lawyers magazine (2007-2010, 2013).
  • Named by Lawdragon as one of "3000 Leading Lawyers in America" (2007, 2010-2011).
  • 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.
  • AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell's highest ranking by peers for general ethical standards and legal ability.

PUBLICATIONS

CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL

SPEECHES

CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL

  • Corporate Political Activities 2013

    Jan Witold Baran, Co-Chair and Caleb P. Burns, Speaker
    September 30 - October 1, 2013 | Washington, DC | More Information

NEWS RELEASES

CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL

IN THE NEWS

CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL
Top of the Page

TOOLS


ADVANCED SITE SEARCH



FILTER BY: