Matthew Shapanka Email & Phone Number

California, United States

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Matthew Shapanka draws on more than 15 years of professional experience in law, federal and state government, and political campaigns to advise and counsel clients across a range of industries on significant legislative, regulatory, and enforcement matters. He develops and executes complex, multifaceted public policy initiatives for clients seeking actions by Congress, state legislatures, and federal and state government agencies, many with significant legal, political, and business opportunities and risks.Matt rejoined Covington after serving as Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, where he advised Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on all legal, policy, and oversight matters within the Committee’s jurisdiction, including federal election and campaign finance law, Federal Election Commission nominations and oversight, and oversight of legislative branch agencies, U.S. Capitol security, and Senate rules and regulations. Most significantly, Matt led the Rules Committee staff work on the Electoral Count Reform Act – landmark bipartisan legislation updating the antiquated process for certifying and counting electoral votes in presidential elections, which was signed into law in 2022—and the Committee’s joint (with the Homeland Security Committee) bipartisan investigation into the security planning and response to the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.In addition to his policy work, Matt advises and represents clients on political law compliance and enforcement matters involving federal election, campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics laws, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “Pay-to-Play” rule, and the election and political laws of states and municipalities across the country.Before law school, Matt worked in the administration of former Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA), where he worked on policy, communications, and compliance matters for federal economic recovery funding awarded to the state.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Chief lawyer (general counsel) for Senate committee, with legal, legislative, and administrative responsibilities. Led staff negotiations and drafting of bipartisan substitute amendment (Klobuchar-Blunt) to the Electoral Count Reform Act (S. 4573) resulting in bipartisan 14–1 Committee vote and enactment as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117–328, div. P); led drafting of Electoral Count Modernization Act (King-Klobuchar-Durbin discussion draft)Managed successful bipartisan confirmation process for Federal Election Commission nominee Dara LindenbaumOversaw joint Rules-Homeland Security Committee investigation of January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, including first-chairing transcribed interviews of former senior officials; drafted Rules components of first bipartisan congressional report and recommendations for security improvements; secured unanimous passage of Capitol Police Emergency Assistance Act (Pub. L. 117–77)Lead attorney on efforts to advance landmark voting rights and campaign finance bills, including Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act (H.R. 5746), Freedom to Vote Act (S. 2747), and For the People Act (S. 1)Advised Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on other Rules Committee policy and oversight matters, including election and campaign finance law, filibuster reform, legislative branch agency oversight, Capitol Complex security, Senate procurement, security clearances, and labor issues; counseled all 100 Senate offices, 24 committees, and leadership on compliance with Senate rules and regulations; staffed Chairwoman for 20 Committee hearings or markupsSupervised four attorneys and policy advisers, and more than 10 law clerks and interns.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Matthew Shapanka represents and counsels corporate, political, and individual clients in policy, regulatory, and criminal matters before government agencies and Congress.Mr. Shapanka develops and executes public policy initiatives for clients seeking actions by Congress, state legislatures, and federal and state government agencies. He represents corporate and nonprofit clients in complex, multifaceted campaigns with significant legal, policy, and political dimensions. He leads the firm’s state policy practice, counseling businesses and nonprofits on matters before state legislatures and state agencies, and vetting and managing local policy counsel on behalf of those clients. He has experience drafting testimony for both legislative and oversight hearings before Congress, and has prepared dozens of witnesses for congressional testimony and depositions. He also has experience in legislative drafting, and has composed multiple bills introduced in Congress and state legislatures, including several that have been enacted into law. Mr. Shapanka also advises and represents clients on the full range of political law compliance and enforcement matters involving federal election, campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics laws, as well as the election and political laws of states and municipalities across the country. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Shapanka worked as a research analyst in the Massachusetts Recovery & Reinvestment Office, where he worked on all aspects of state-level policy, communications, and compliance for federal stimulus funding awarded to Massachusetts under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. He has also worked for federal, state, and local political candidates in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Washington, D.C.

Election & Political Law, Public Policy, and Congressional Investigations attorney.

Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Drafted respondent pleadings for Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission proceedings in Allen v. Lesser, SBLC 14-1 (June 2014).

Greater Boston Area

Conducted legal research in connection with several white-collar prosecutions, including issues of bail and sentencing; drafted pretrial motion in major prosecution.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Aided Governor Deval Patrick Administration's economic recovery efforts by helping to ensure that federal stimulus funds awarded to Massachusetts under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 were spent effectively, with a high level of transparency and accountability. This included: project selection in line with the Obama and Patrick Administrations' recovery priorities, communications, legislative affairs, and transparency, including federal reporting. Testified before Joint Committee on Federal Stimulus Oversight.

Medford, Massachusetts, United States

Managed $1.4 million operating budget for student government and 160 student extracurricular organizations; worked with University administration to develop and implement new procedural strategies in wake of a staff embezzlement scandal during the previous academic year; oversaw debate over and distribution of an additional $902,000 in funds restored to TCU; oversaw and managed Treasury staff (2 students) and student Allocations Board (9 students); led policy work of student Senate as a member of the Executive Board

Engaged in external outreach and programming development for new policy Institute at the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service

Greater Boston

Staffed Attorney General campaign functions including the 2008 Democratic National Convention, 2006 Massachusetts Democratic Convention and fundraising events, organized nomination signature drive, traveled representing campaign in Middlesex and Essex Counties

Boston, Ma

Juris Doctor (J.D.), Law

Activities and Societies: Harvard Law & Policy Review (Senior Articles Editor; Senior Technical Editor); Ames Moot Court (Participant)

Law

George Washington Scholar (Top 1-15% of class through 1L year) Best Appellate Brief Award - 1L Moot Court Competition (Spring 2012).

B.A., Magna Cum Laude, Political Science And Government

Activities and Societies: Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society), Tufts nominee for Harry Truman Foundation Scholarship, Tufts.

Special Program Credit, Us-Japanese Relations

Reischauer Scholar, Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (Distance Learning Program)

High School Diploma

Activities and Societies: National Honor Society Class Valedictorian

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Political Science And Government