Allentown Indictment A Warning To Attys Seeking Gov't Work

Allentown Indictment A Warning To Attys Seeking Gov't Work

July 31, 2017, Law360

Arlo Devlin-Brown is quoted in a Law360 article regarding the complications surrounding political contributions for lawyers working with the public sector following the indictment of Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski. According to Devlin-Brown, "The Supreme Court has indicated that in the context of campaign contributions, compared to other benefits that go to politicians, there has to be a very clear understanding between those making donations and politicians that donations are expressly in exchange for particular official acts." He adds, "It's fine to make contributions to particular elected officials because you think these elected officials will be supportive of efforts to pitch your firm on the merits for government contracts. But you can't cross the line and make a donation to a politician who suggests that such a donation is a necessary or even sufficient step for winning the contract. If a politician on the other side makes that suggestion, a law firm, or any other vendor, would be wise to turn away and head in the other direction."