Former FEC Chairman Michael E. Toner Joins Wiley Rein
On Monday, March 7, former chairman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and prominent election law attorney Michael E. Toner returned to Wiley Rein's Election Law & Government Ethics Practice. Mr. Toner—a political law veteran with a wealth of experience advising candidates, political committees, trade associations and corporate clients on federal and state election law compliance—is now the co-chair of the country's oldest and largest team of attorneys practicing in this area. He rejoins Wiley Rein from the Washington, DC office of Bryan Cave, where he led the firm's Election Law and Government Ethics Practice and was president of Bryan Cave Strategies, the firm's public policy and government affairs branch.
Mr. Toner began his legal career as an associate at Wiley Rein and has established himself as one of the nation's leading lawyers in the political law arena. Nominated to the FEC in 2002, Mr. Toner served as FEC chairman in 2006 and remained commissioner until 2007. He served as chief counsel of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2001 to 2002 and was RNC deputy counsel from 1997 to 1999. He also served as general counsel of the Bush-Cheney 2000 presidential campaign and the Bush-Cheney Transition Team, and was counsel to the 1996 Dole-Kemp presidential campaign. Mr. Toner received his J.D., cum laude, from Cornell Law School, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University, and a B.A., with distinction, from the University of Virginia.
In welcoming him back to the firm, Jan Baran, head of Wiley Rein's Election Law & Government Ethics Practice, explained that Michael Toner's “leadership, experience and expertise will wonderfully complement and enhance our capabilities. As we continue to expand our practice, we remain committed to providing our clients with exceptional service and counsel.”
Joining Mr. Toner at Wiley Rein from Bryan Cave are associate Brandis L. Zehr, along with two reporting specialists, Karen Trainer and Julie A. Fleming. Ms. Zehr is a former Associate Counsel of the RNC, and Ms. Trainer and Ms. Fleming have both served in the FEC's Reports Analysis Division.
