Charlies R Spies

Charlies Spies is the leader of Clark Hill's national Political Law practice, as well as the Member in Charge of the Washington D.C. office. Charlie has over a decade of experience providing strategic counsel at the highest levels in Washington D.C. and nationwide. He counsels a broad range of organizations, corporations, candidates and individuals confronting challenges and opportunities at the intersection of political and issue campaigns, government ethics, law and public policy. As Chief Financial Officer and Counsel for Governor Mitt Romney's Presidential campaign, Mr. Spies developed and managed the campaign's $105 million budget and systems for the campaign's legal compliance with Federal Election Commission, IRS and various state regulations, as well as record-keeping and accounting. During the 2005 and 2006 election cycles, Mr. Spies served as General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer for the Republican Governors Association. At the RGA, he developed the legal and budgeting strategy for the association's participation in governors's races in thirty-eight states. During the 2004 Presidential election cycle, Mr. Spies served as Election Law Counsel for the Republican National Committee, where he focused on federal and state election law compliance for the national party, as well as policy and litigation issues involved in campaign finance reform and 527 organizations. His tenure at the RNC began with the Bush-Cheney administration in 2001, and continued under four Chairmen. Mr. Spies previously served as legal and policy advisor to FEC Chairman Darryl R. Wold, where he counseled the Chairman on a wide range of issues regarding the administration of the Federal Election Campaign Act. Prior and subsequent to his tenure at the Federal Election Commission, Mr. Spies worked at two prominent Washington D.C. law firms. He has lectured at the US Law Institute, Georgetown University Law Center and the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, been featured on an ABA Administrative Law Division panel, testified before the FEC and state boards of election and participated in working groups for the OAS Unit for the Promotion of Democracy.