Jason Abel

Partner

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Areas of Work

Government Affairs & Public Policy, Campaign Finance & Political Law, Congressional Oversight & Investigations, Vetting & Government Ethics

Overview

Jason Abel leads Steptoe's Campaign Finance and Political Law practice and advises clients on a range of government affairs issues, including legislative strategy and process. Jason served as chief counsel for US Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Chairman Charles Schumer and prior to that, as counsel for Senator Schumer in his personal office. Clients benefit from Jason's valuable Capitol Hill experience, where he worked with Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle to craft and execute strategy for several successful pieces of bipartisan legislation.

Recognized by Chambers USA in the political law arena and named a "Top Lawyer" for Campaign and Election Law by Washingtonian, Jason counsels candidates, corporations, trade associations, individuals and nonprofits on the complex intersection of law and political activity. His federal campaign finance practice includes PAC formation and compliance, and he counsels clients on Federal Election Commission rules and regulations. Jason has significant experience working on complicated questions arising under the House and Senate Ethics and Gift Rules, the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA), the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), and the various statutory provisions and rules surrounding conflict of interest and "revolving door" employment. He also advises financial services firms, government contractors and other businesses, as well as nonprofit entities on federal, state, and local pay-to-play and campaign finance matters, lobbying compliance, and gift and entertainment rules.

As counsel to Sen. Schumer, Jason was a part of the team that investigated the firing of US attorneys by the Department of Justice (DOJ), and led a successful effort to persuade the DOJ to reverse course and extend benefits to the family members of fallen firefighters and auxiliary police officers. As chief counsel of the Senate Committee on Rules & Administration, Jason led the strategic development and passage of the bipartisan Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE) Act of 2009, and the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011. Notably, Jason was the lead Senate aide for campaign finance issues including the DISCLOSE Act, the Democratic response to the Supreme Court’s opinion in Citizens United v. FEC.

Jason serves on the firm's pro bono committee and is Chair of the Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Committee of the American Bar Association's Civil Rights and Social Justice Section. He has extensive experience in voter protection and voting rights, and as a summer law clerk at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., he was part of the first "election protection" poll monitoring in 2001. Since that time, Jason has taken on numerous voter protection leadership roles, including serving as the Mississippi State Voter Protection Director for the Democratic Coordinated Committee in 2008. In addition to Mississippi, he has led boiler room legal operations in Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Jason is a lecturer in law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he teaches election law, and a professorial lecturer in law at George Washington University Law School, where he teaches campaign finance law and Congressional procedure.

District of Columbia
Maryland
US District Court, District of Columbia
US District Court, District of Maryland
US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia

J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2003, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Constitutional Law; Winner and Best Oralist, Edwin R. Keedy Cup Moot Court Competition
University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, 2003, Certificate of Business and Public Policy
B.A., University of Illinois, 2000

Areas of Work

Speaking Engagements

Speaker, "Optimizing PAC Boards & Governance," Public Affairs Council, March 25, 2025
Moderator, "Civil Rights Boot Camp: The Basics of Policy Development & Advocacy," American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Webinar, March 7, 2025
Moderator, "Ninth Annual State of Voting Rights," American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Webinar, October 10, 2024
"The Most Important Election of Our Lifetimes… Again: The 2024 Election and its Effect on Business Lawyers," American Bar Association Business Law Section, October 8, 2024
Moderator, "Eighth Annual State of Voting Rights," American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Webinar, December 11, 2023
Speaker, "Virtual Workshop: Ethical Public Affairs in Government Relations" Public Affairs Council, June 7, 2023
Moderator, "Seventh Annual State of Voting Rights," American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Webinar, December 13, 2022
"The Fine Line Between Scholarship and Advocacy: New, Special Considerations for NGOs and Think Tanks," 4^th National Forum on FARA – Foreign Agents Registration Act, December 8, 2022
"Voting Laws in States, State Legislatures, and the Role of the U.S. Supreme Court," Public Affairs Council 2022 State and Local Government Relations Conference, September 23, 2022
"The 2022 Midterm Congressional Elections and Their Impact on Business Lawyers," ABA Business Law Annual Meeting, September 15, 2022
“Election Jeopardy,” American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Webinar, June 29, 2022
"Corporate Political Activity: Opportunity Amid Scrutiny," ESG News and Views Podcast Series, The Conference Board, February 16, 2022
Moderator, "Sixth Annual State of Voting Rights," American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Webinar, December 3, 2021
"A Thin Line with Big Consequences for Lobbying and PR Firms: Key Misconceptions About the Lengths and Limits of the LDA Exemption," 3^rd National Forum on FARA – Foreign Agents Registration Act, December 9, 2021
"Lobbyists and the LDA Exemption," American Conference Institute's 2nd National Forum on FARA – Foreign Agents Registration Act, December 4, 2020
Moderator, "November 3, 2020: The View from November 10," American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights & Social Justice Webinar, November 10, 2020
Moderator, "Voting Rights and the 2020 Election," University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, October 21, 2020
Moderator, "Fifth Annual State of Voting Rights," American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Webinar, October 14, 2020
"Voting Rights and the 2020 Election," Social Justice Forum, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, September 9, 2020
"Revisiting Campaign Finance Regulation 10 Years After Citizens United," American Constitution Society, January 16, 2020. Watch the full panel discussion here.
Moderator, "Fourth Annual State of Voting Rights," American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, November 8, 2019
"The Knowns and Unknowns of FARA Reform: Status of Pending Bills, and the Potential Impact on Civil and Criminal Enforcement Risks," ACI's National Forum on FARA, Washington, DC, September 25, 2019
Moderator, "More Than Meddling: Foreign Attacks on Elections & Public Policy," 40th Annual Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) Conference, Philadelphia, PA, December 9, 2018
"The Failures of Oversight and Election Security: A Conversation featuring Kim Zetter," POGO Oversight Summit 2018, Washington, DC, November 16, 2018
"It's Always Election Season: Building Effective Campaign Finance and Pay-to-Play Compliance Programs," ABA Business Law Section, Washington, DC, August 16, 2018
Moderator, "Third Annual State of Voting Rights," ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Washington, DC, July 12, 2018
"Lobbying Rules, Advice, and Tips for the New Administration," ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, September 15, 2017
"State of Voting Rights," American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Washington, DC, June 28, 2017
"Post-Election Analysis: New President; New Congress; What Does it Mean for Business Lawyers?," American Bar Association Business Law Section's Spring Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 8, 2017
"Whose Voice is it Anyway? The Influence of Campaign Finance on Party Politics," University of Pennsylvania Law School's 36th annual Edward V. Sparer Symposium, Philadelphia, PA, January 13, 2017
"Elections Have Consequences: An Examination of the 2016 Elections, the Respective Candidates' Post-Election Legislative Agendas and the Impact on You and Your Clients," American Bar Association Business Law Section Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, September 7, 2016
"Whose Vote Will Count? The State of Voting Rights and the 2016 Election," American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Washington, DC, February 29, 2016
"How Business Can Ethically and Legally Interact With Government," American Bar Association Business Law Section's Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, September 17, 2015
"Beyond Watts and Ferguson: Reconciling Law Enforcement and Communities of Color," American Bar Association Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, July 31, 2015

News & Publications

Press Releases

April 30, 2025

Political Law Blog

March 19, 2025

By: Jason Abel, Patrick F. Linehan, Elizabeth Goodwin

Client Alerts

March 17, 2025

By: Jason Abel, Patrick F. Linehan, Elizabeth Goodwin

Media Mentions

January 31, 2025

Press Releases

January 24, 2025

Client Alerts

January 14, 2025

By: Jason Abel, Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Jack Buttarazzi, Darryl Nirenberg

Press Releases

January 9, 2025

International Compliance Blog

December 23, 2024

By: Elizabeth Goodwin, Nicholas P. Silverman, Brian J. Fleming, Jason Abel

Political Law Blog

December 23, 2024

By: Elizabeth Goodwin, Nicholas P. Silverman, Brian J. Fleming, Jason Abel

Political Law Blog

November 25, 2024

By: Jason Abel, Adie J. Olson, Jennifer M. Jackson, Amanda Powell, Elizabeth Goodwin

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Resources

Exempt Organizations Advisory

January 5, 2021

By: Jason Abel, John Cobb, Caitlin R. Tharp

Financial Services Group Advisory

March 29, 2020

By: Micah S. Green, Scott A. Sinder, Jason Abel, Kate Jensen

Financial Services Group Advisory

March 25, 2020

By: Micah S. Green, Scott A. Sinder, Jason Abel, N. Hunter Johnston, Kate Jensen

Financial Services Group Advisory

March 24, 2020

By: Micah S. Green, Scott A. Sinder, Jason Abel, Kate Jensen

Events

Webinars

April 24, 2025

Speakers: Jason Abel, Akita Adkins, Iris E. Bennett, Christopher R. Conte, Amba M. Datta, Ryan Hayden, Michelle Kallen, Patrick F. Linehan, Michael Campion Miller, Zoe Osborne, Wendy Wysong

Seminars & Events

April 3, 2025

Webinars

March 20, 2025

Speakers: Jason Abel, Lisa M. Zarlenga, Michele Nellenbach, Nick Sutter

Webinars

March 6, 2025

Speakers: Jason Abel, Caitlin Conroy, Amba M. Datta, Tyler Evans

Webinars

February 20, 2025

Speakers: Jason Abel, Iris E. Bennett, Sandra Hanna, Zoe Osborne, Claire Rajan

Webinars

February 6, 2025

Speakers: Jason Abel, Matthew J. Flynn, Meghan Pearce, Jeffrey G. Weiss

Webinars

January 28, 2025

Speakers: Jason Abel, Lee Berger, Christopher R. Conte, Amba M. Datta, Ryan Hayden, Gregory S. McCue, Michael Campion Miller, Zoe Osborne, Wendy Wysong

Webinars

January 23, 2025

Speakers: Jason Abel, Leslie A. Belcher, Matthew J. Flynn

Webinars

January 8, 2025

Speakers: Jason Abel, Brian J. Fleming, Adie J. Olson

Webinars

November 7, 2024

Speakers: Jason Abel, Leslie A. Belcher, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, N. Hunter Johnston, Darryl Nirenberg, Lisa M. Zarlenga, Ashelen Vicuña

View All

Noteworthy

The AmLaw Litigation Daily Litigator of the Week Runner-Up (January 31, 2025)
Chambers USA, Government: Political Law, Nationwide (2015-2024)
Super Lawyers, Washington, DC, Legislative & Governmental Affairs (2019-2024)
Legal 500 US, Government: Government relations (2018)
Washingtonian magazine's "Best Lawyers," Campaign and Election Law (2017-2018, 2024)
The Hill, "Top Lobbyists" (2016-2018, 2020-2022)
The National Law Journal, "DC Rising Star" (2015)
Legal Bisnow, Washington's 2015 Trending 40 Lawyers Under 40 (2015)
National Journal, "The Hill People" (2011)

Previous Employment

Chief Counsel, US Senate Committee on Rules & Administration Chairman, Senator Chuck Schumer (2009-2011)
Counsel, Senator Chuck Schumer (2007-2009)

Professional Affiliations

Co-Chair, Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Committee of the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice (2014-2019, 2021-Present)
Special Counsel, Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice, American Bar Association (2019-2021)
Member, Task Force on Elections and Voting Rights, Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice, American Bar Association
Chair, Subcommittee on Newsletter/Lobbying Law Compendium, Government Affairs Practice Committee of the Business Law Section, American Bar Association
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Member, University of Illinois System Advocacy Committee