Trevor Potter

Trevor Potter is a Member in Caplin & Drysdale's Washington, D.C., office, where he leads the firm's Political Law and Exempt Organizations practice groups. He is one of the nation's best-known and experienced campaign and election lawyers. A former Commissioner and Chairman of the Federal Election Commission, and counsel to several Presidential campaigns, Mr. Potter has been described by the American Bar Association Journal as "hands-down one of the top lawyers in the country on the delicate intersection of politics, law, and money." Mr. Potter counsels political candidates, for-profit entities, and non-profit organizations on a variety of political law issues. He is a leading authority on lobbying regulation, government ethics and campaign finance issues. Mr. Potter served as General Counsel to John McCain's 2008 and 2000 presidential campaigns. He also served as Deputy General Counsel to George H.W. Bush's 1988 campaign. Mr. Potter is Counsel to Stephen Colbert's 501(c)(4) and he advises Mr. Colbert on campaign finance issues on The Colbert Report. He was also the lawyer for Mr. Colbert's SuperPac "Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow" in the 2012 election cycle. Mr. Potter is the founding President of and General Counsel for the Campaign Legal Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit which focuses on campaign finance issues in the courts and before the FEC. J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1982 A.B., Harvard College, 1978