Welcome to the Lobby Bar: Battleground 2025 – Navigating Pay-to-Play Laws

The Lobby Bar

On the inaugural episode of “The Lobby Bar” podcast, partners Charlie Ricciardelli and Tyler Rosen unpack the complexities of pay-to-play rules in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City. These jurisdictions all have “off-year” elections in 2025, with some featuring liability laws that can potentially knock companies out of government contracts based on violations.

Key Points

• New Jersey Features Rules That Could Impact Government Contracts: New Jersey has strict regulations on pay-to-play rules that could trigger bans on companies from holding or receiving government contracts that can last for the duration of an elected official’s term
• Virginia Less Strict But Companies Must Be Mindful: Virginia's rules include gift provisions and apply during pending bids
• New York City Has a Different Structure: New York City's rules allow candidates to self-police political contributions to ensure they are under the prescribed limits. There is no legal liability for a company as a whole, but there is liability for a company’s covered donors
• Importance of Pre-Clearance: Pay-to-play rules are varied and can implicate federal regulations as well. Companies and organizations should be mindful of having a pre-clearance process in place to ensure compliance

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Charlie Ricciardelli | LinkedIn

☑️ Tyler Rosen | LinkedIn

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“The Lobby Bar” is presented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This podcast is considered advertising under applicable state laws.