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 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 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 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.  He has been called “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: 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" (2006-2010).
  • Named one of DC's "Super Lawyers" by Super Lawyers magazine (2007-2010).
  • Selected by Lawdragon as one of the 3,000 Leading Lawyers in America (2007, 2010).
  • 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
    Jan Witold Baran and D. Mark Renaud
    September 2009 | PLI's Corporate Political Activities 2009: Complying with Campaign Finance, Lobbying & Ethics Laws Handbook

SPEECHES

CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL

  • Corporate Political Activities 2010: Complying with Campaign Finance, Lobbying & Ethics Laws

    Jan Witold Baran, Co-Chair
    Practising Law Institute Conference
    October 5 - October 6, 2010 | Washington, DC | More Information

  • Federal Lobbying Disclosure Laws and Federal Ethics Rules

    Jan Witold Baran, Speaker
    PLI's Corporate Political Activities 2010: Complying with Campaign Finance, Lobbying & Ethics Laws Conference
    October 5, 2010 | Washington, DC | More Information

  • Political Action Committees

    Jan Witold Baran, Speaker
    PLI's Corporate Political Activities 2010: Complying with Campaign Finance, Lobbying & Ethics Laws Conference
    October 5, 2010 | Washington, DC | More Information

  • Criminal and Civil Enforcement of Election and Ethics Laws

    Jan Witold Baran, Speaker
    PLI's Corporate Political Activities 2010: Complying with Campaign Finance, Lobbying & Ethics Laws Conference
    October 6, 2010 | Washington, DC | More Information

NEWS RELEASES

CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL

IN THE NEWS

CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL
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