Melissa L. Miles

Having practiced political law for more than 20 years at Skadden, Ms. Miles advises clients on anti-corruption, campaign finance, pay-to-play, lobbying, ethics and conflict-of-interest laws. She also counsels clients on establishing and maintaining comprehensive policies and systems to ensure compliance with those laws.

Ms. Miles also represents clients facing investigations, government enforcement actions and audits before lobby, ethics and elections commissions, including the Federal Election Commission, and is routinely chosen to perform internal political law audits for clients and to provide counsel and recommendations based on the audit findings.

In addition, she advises clients on establishing comprehensive corporate and PAC political giving models at the federal level and in all 50 states pursuant to applicable campaign finance and pay-to-play laws. She also counsels corporate clients on political compliance issues relevant to mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, Ms. Miles represents clients in matters involving compliance with conflict-of-interest laws related to employees seeking to hold elected or appointed positions within government bodies or related to the hiring of former public officials. As well, she has assisted in developing government consultant background-check protocols and regularly oversees and advises on these results.

Ms. Miles has extensive experience working with federal pay-to-play laws, including SEC Rule 206(4)-5, MSRB Rule G-37, CFTC Rule 23.451 and FINRA Rule 2030, as well as state and local pay-to-play laws.

Ms. Miles has participated in Skadden’s Women’s Leadership Forum. She also is a member of the Public Affairs Council’s PAC Leaders Group and regularly gives presentations on political law issues to in-house counsel, trade associations and other large membership organizations.

• “PAC Contribution Criteria,” Public Affairs Council, January 17, 2024
• “ESG Considerations for Disbursement Strategies,” Public Affairs Council, February 28, 2023
• “Post-Election Issues and Considerations,” Skadden webinar, November 16, 2022
• “Understanding How the ESG Landscape Impacts Public Affairs,” Public Affairs Council, July 20, 2022
• “Political Giving: Navigating Campaign Finance and Pay-to-Play Laws,” SIGMA (Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America), May 1, 2022
• “PAC Reset: ESG Considerations for Re-Engagement,” Public Affairs Council, March 1, 2022
• “Foreign Influence in the U.S. Political Process,” Skadden webinar, November 4, 2021
• “PAC Essentials: Revisiting Contributions, Bylaws and Governance,” Public Affairs Council, June 10, 2021
• “PAC Compliance and Corporate Political Contributions,” Skadden webinar, April 28, 2021
• “Compliance Essentials in a Virtual World,” Public Affairs Council, February 25, 2021
• “Managing Corporate Political Contributions,” Public Affairs Council webinar, November 12, 2020