Joseph M. Birkenstock is a Member in Caplin & Drysdale's Washington, D.C. office.
He joined the firm in 2005 after serving as Chief Counsel of the Democratic National Committee and practicing political law with a firm in Los Angeles. While at the DNC, Mr. Birkenstock worked closely with the party’s fundraisers and campaign staff to help ensure their compliance with the myriad of state and federal laws governing their activities, and took primary responsibility for responding to several investigations into Democratic Party fundraising following the 1996 presidential election. He also assisted in the litigation and public relations efforts surrounding the 2000 Florida recount and helped implement the DNC’s transition to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance regime.
Mr. Birkenstock focuses on advising corporations, non-profit organizations, candidates, officeholders, and other clients in structuring new political efforts and administering their political, lobbying, and issue-advocacy projects. He also helps clients respond to controversies involving issues of political law such as alleged campaign finance improprieties, conflicts of interest, and real or perceived violations of other legal and ethical obligations.
Mr. Birkenstock also lectures and writes on topics related to campaign finance and political law. He currently serves as a Lecturer at The University of Virginia Law School, where he teaches an upper-level seminar on the Law of Politics. He has also lectured or appeared on panels at The George Washington University Law School, George Mason University School of Law, Vanderbilt Law School and the Pepperdine University School of Law. He has published or been quoted in mass market media including the Associated Press, CNN.com, and Salon.com, legal niche media such as the Election Law Journal and the American Lawyer Media publications, as well as more narrowly focused media outlets including The Daily Tax Report and The Capitol Weekly. He was recently listed in Washingtonian magazine as one of "DC's Best Lawyers," and is currently serving as Co-Editor (with Trevor Potter) of the third edition of the
Political Activity, Lobbying Laws, and Gift Rules Guide, which will be published by West Legalworks in 2007.