Covington & Burling LLP operates as a limited liability partnership worldwide, with the practice in England and Wales conducted by an affiliated
limited liability multinational partnership, Covington & Burling LLP, which is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware in the United States
and authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 77071..
Matthew Shapanka is a strategic policy and regulatory attorney who helps technology companies and other businesses navigate complex, high-stakes legislative, regulatory, and enforcement matters at the intersection of law and politics. Drawing on 15+ years of experience across private practice, the U.S. Senate, state government, and political campaigns, Matt develops comprehensive policy strategies that identify regulatory risks and position clients to shape policy outcomes.
Public Policy and Regulatory Strategy
Matt serves as a strategic advisor to Fortune 200 companies on emerging technology policy, including artificial intelligence regulation, connected and autonomous vehicles, semiconductors, IoT, and national security matters. He translates complex legal and technical issues into actionable legislative and regulatory strategy, building the policy frameworks and advocacy infrastructure that enable clients to influence policy. He develops policy collateral for federal, state, and international advocacy, coordinates multi-stakeholder coalitions, and represents clients before Congress, federal agencies, and state legislative and regulatory bodies.
His technology policy experience includes securing unprecedented Presidential intervention in the $118 billion Qualcomm-Broadcom transaction (for which Covington was recognized as The American Lawyer 2019 “Dealmakers of the Year”), advising Fortune 200 companies on Bureau of Industry and Security connected vehicle rules, and counseling major internet platforms on autonomous vehicle policy across dozens of states.
Matt leads Covington’s state public policy practice, managing complex multistate legislative and regulatory advocacy campaigns. His state-level work includes securing a last-minute amendment to California’s 2023 money transmitter legislation on behalf of a fintech client and representing major technology companies on state AI, autonomous vehicle, and political advertising compliance matters across dozens of jurisdictions.
Matt rejoined Covington after serving as Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration under Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), where he negotiated the landmark bipartisan Electoral Count Reform Act – legislation that updated presidential election certification procedures for the first time in nearly 140 years. He also oversaw the Committee’s bipartisan January 6th investigation, developing protocols that resulted in unanimous passage of new Capitol security legislation.
Both in Congress and at Covington, Matt has prepared dozens of corporate executives, nonprofit leaders, academics, and presidential nominees for testimony at congressional committee hearings and depositions. He is a skilled legislative drafter and strategist who has composed dozens of bills and amendments introduced in Congress and state legislatures, including many that have been enacted into law.
Election and Political Law Compliance and Enforcement
As a member of Covington’s Chambers-ranked (Band 1) Election and Political Law practice, Matt advises businesses, nonprofits, political committees, candidates, and donors on the full range of federal and state political law compliance matters, including:
Election and campaign finance laws
Lobbying disclosure
Government ethics rules
The SEC Pay-to-Play Rule
He also conducts political law due diligence for M&A transactions, counsels major political funders and donors in compliance and enforcement matters, and represents candidates, ballot measure committees, and donors in election disputes and recounts.
Before law school, Matt served in the administration of former Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA), where he worked on policy, communications, and compliance matters for federal economic recovery funding awarded to the state. He has also staffed federal, state, and local political candidates in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Represented Qualcomm in successful defense against hostile takeover by Broadcom Ltd. valued at $117 billion.
Providing comprehensive government affairs advice and representation to a Fortune 200 technology company on federal and state technology policy and legislation.
Advising major technology companies on state connected and autonomous vehicle policy and legislation.
Advising fintech company on financial regulatory policy and legislative strategy across more than a dozen states.
Represented multiple political reform organizations on policy and legislation to strengthen U.S. democracy.
Represented major national legal organization on state policy matters.
Advised multi-billion-dollar pension trust fund on policy matters before Congress and the Administration.
Directly advised dozens of businesses and associations – including a Fortune 10 company – on state laws, policies, and emergency orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congressional Investigations
Represented multiple major financial institutions and pharmaceutical companies in investigations before congressional committees.
Represented government-chartered corporation in legislative and oversight hearings before congressional committee.
Represented government official subpoenaed to give deposition before congressional oversight committee
Election and Political Law
Advising major technology company on political advertising compliance.
Represented major political nonprofit in municipal campaign finance investigation.
Represented a large investment advisory firm in successful application for exemption from the Securities and Exchange Commission “Pay-to-Play” Rule.
Represented multiple private equity firms in conducting political law due diligence for successful mergers and acquisitions collectively valued at over $15 billion.
Represented statewide political candidate in successful defense of eligibility to appear on the ballot.
Represented multiple political clients in enforcement matters before the Federal Election Commission.
Represented multiple clients – including a Fortune 50 energy company – on federal and state lobbying and Foreign Agents Registration Act compliance.
Representing immigrant justice organization on federal appropriations legislation.
Representing nonprofit Making Every Vote Count on presidential election reform policy and legislation.
Advised major labor union-affiliated nonprofit on political law compliance issues.
Successfully represented Nanticoke Indian Tribe in seeking legislation granting the tribe formal recognition in the State of Delaware.
Represented national homelessness advocacy organization to secure significant reforms to the title V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and on other policy matters before Congress and the Administration.
Represented Prison Legal News in First Amendment prison censorship litigation, including oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Memberships and Affiliations
American Bar Association
California Political Attorneys Association
California Lawyers Association
American Constitution Society
Tufts Lawyers Association
National Eagle Scout Association
Previous Experience
Chief Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Associate, Covington & Burling LLP
Law Clerk, Eric Lesser for Massachusetts State Senate
Clinical Extern, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Major Crimes Unit
Judicial Extern, Hon. Amy Berman Jackson, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Research Analyst, Massachusetts Recovery & Reinvestment Office
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