Lawrence Norton

Lawrence H. Norton, also known as Larry Norton, is a partner at Venable LLP and co-chair of the political law practice group in Washington, DC.13 He is a former general counsel of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) who specializes in advising clients on federal and state campaign finance laws, lobbying disclosure, gift and ethics rules, pay-to-play laws, and the tax implications of political activities.23

Norton's clients include corporations and their PACs, advocacy groups, trade associations, candidates, super PACs, lobbying firms, law firms, and high-net-worth individuals.3 He is known for providing pragmatic and creative solutions to complex problems, troubleshooting new projects and programs, and helping clients manage their legal and reputational risks in the political sphere.2

Before joining Venable, Norton held several positions in federal government agencies:

1. General Counsel at the Federal Election Commission (FEC)
2. Associate Director in the Division of Enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
3. Assistant Director in the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)3

Norton has been recognized for his expertise in political law, including being named to the Washingtonian magazine's Top Lawyers Hall of Fame List in 2022.4 He began his legal career as a litigation associate at Venable before his government service, and later returned to the firm as a partner.1