Jennie Unger Skelton

Jennie Skelton is a partner in Nielsen Merksamer, a law firm with 40 years of expertise in political law issues. 

Ms. Skelton specializes in federal, state and local lobby, campaign, "pay-to-play," gift, "revolving door" and ethics laws and compliance, as well as enforcement actions before federal, state and local ethics agencies.

As outside counsel, Ms. Skelton assists business entities and individuals on contribution, lobby and ethics legal and compliance issues nationwide. Specifically, she assists entities and individuals with the development and administration of comprehensive lobby and "pay-to-play" compliance programs, as well as corporate and PAC campaign contribution compliance at the federal, state and local level.

Ms. Skelton provides counsel regarding federal, state and local gift activity, conflicts of interests and "revolving door" issues.  Ms. Skelton also assists entities with the filing of federal lobby reports under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), as well as compliance with the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA).

Since 2004, Ms. Skelton has been a co-editor of the Practising Law Institute’s “Corporate Political Activities” publication regarding state lobby and gift laws.  Ms. Skelton frequently speaks on governmental compliance and ethics issues, including at the Council of Governmental Ethics Law's (COGEL) annual conference.

Ms. Skelton  previously served as Enforcement Division counsel with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). As former Commission Counsel, Ms. Skelton has expertise in FPPC matters, including pending enforcement matters and complaints. Ms. Skelton has represented clients with enforcement matters before the FPPC, the Federal Elections Commission, and numerous other state and local agencies across the country.