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Zachary G. Parks

Of Counsel

Washington +1 202 662 5208

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Zachary Parks advises corporations, trade associations, campaigns, and high-net worth individuals on their most important and challenging political law problems.

    Chambers USA describes Zachary as “highly regarded by his clients in the political law arena,” noting that clients praised him as their “go-to outside attorney for election law, campaign finance, pay-to-play and PAC issues.” Zachary is also a leading lawyer in the emerging corporate political disclosure field, regularly advising corporations on these issues.

    Zachary's expertise includes the Federal Election Campaign Act, the Lobbying Disclosure Act, the Ethics in Government Act, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s pay-to-play rules. He has also helped clients comply with the election and political laws of all 50 states. Zachary also frequently leads political law due diligence for investment firms and corporations during mergers and acquisitions.

    He routinely advises corporations and corporate executives on instituting political law compliance programs and conducts compliance training for senior corporate executives and lobbyists. He also has extensive experience conducting corporate internal investigations concerning campaign finance and lobbying law compliance and has defended his political law clients in investigations by the Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, Congressional committees, and in litigation.

    Zachary is also the founder and chair of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society’s Political and Election Law Section.

    Zachary also has extensive complex litigation experience, having litigated major environmental claims, class actions, and multi-district proceedings for financial institutions, corporations, and public entities.

    From 2005 to 2006, Zachary was a law clerk for Judge Thomas B. Griffith on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters

    Election and Political Law

    • Represented Qualcomm in first-of-its-kind litigation brought by New York State Common Retirement Fund to compel production of internal books and records concerning political contributions. New York State Common Retirement Fund v. Qualcomm Incorporated (Del. Ch., 2013) (No. 8170-CS).
    • Represented prominent political candidate in connection with high-profile “pay-to-play” investigation.
    • Successfully defended nationally known television personality in investigation by the Federal Election Commission.
    • Spearheaded political law compliance review for global natural resources company.

    • Led internal lobbying disclosure compliance review for leading international financial services firm.
    • Represented major manufacturer in Government Accountability Office audit of its compliance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act.
    • Served as on-site First Amendment counsel for national political party convention.
    • Represented the Republican National Committee in investigations by the House Judiciary Committee and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform relating to the use of RNC email accounts by White House officials.
    • Conducted internal investigation for the National Republican Congressional Committee concerning one of the largest ever embezzlements by a political committee treasurer.
    • Prepared pharmaceutical company CEO for testimony before U.S. House committee panel.

    Complex Litigation

    • Represented leading financial institution in multiple consumer protection class actions, including a major multi-district class action, all of which were successfully settled.
    • Represented a leading financial institution in antitrust class action brought against eight banks. The case was successfully settled as to Mr. Parks’ client.
    • Won dismissal of fraud claims and favorably settled multi-million dollar arbitration for sellers of a United States software company.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, J.D., 2004
        • magna cum laude
        • Elected Order of the Coif
        • Law Review, Lead Articles Editor
    • Brigham Young University, B.A., 2001
        • magna cum laude
    Bar Admissions
    • California
    • District of Columbia
    Judicial Clerkship
    • Hon. Thomas B. Griffith, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 2005 - 2006
    Languages
    • Spanish
    Pro Bono
    • Counsel of record in Supreme Court amicus brief on behalf of family members of soldiers named on the Peace Cross in American Legion v. American Humanist Association (No. 17-1717).
    • Prepared Supreme Court amicus brief on behalf of 207 Members of Congress in Zubik v. Burwell (No. 14-1418).
    • Prepared Supreme Court amicus brief on behalf of 88 Members of Congress in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. (No. 13-354).
    • Represented Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts as regulatory compliance counsel.
    • Won unanimous reversal of Maryland resident’s firearms and controlled substance convictions. Carrero-Vasquez v. Maryland (Md. Spec. App. 2013) (No. 1443).
    Accolades
    • Chambers USA, Government: Political Law (2021; 2015-2017) 
    • Washington DC Super Lawyers, Legislative & Governmental Affairs (2020)

    Areas of Expertise

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