Charles R. Spies

Charles R. Spies is the leader of Clark Hill's national Political Law practice, as well as the Member in Charge of the Washington D.C. office. Charlie has over fifteen years of experience providing strategic counsel at the highest levels in Washington D.C. and nationwide. He counsels a broad range of corporations, organizations, candidates, officeholders, and individuals confronting challenges and opportunities at the intersection of political and issue campaigns, government ethics, law and public policy.  In 2015 he was named to The Politico 50 – a list of “thinkers, doers and visionaries transforming American politics” for his work which “created a playbook that allows candidates to maximize the new flood of money into politics.”  He is nationally ranked in Chambers USA as a top Political Law attorney, is a Washingtonian Magazine “Top Lawyer” and a “Super Lawyer,” and has been listed as one of the “Most Powerful People in Washington” in GQ Magazine.

Charlie serves as counsel to multiple campaigns, super PACs, trade associations, and non-profit organizations, including co-founding and serving as counsel to Restore Our Future, the largest super PAC in history. As Chief Financial Officer and Counsel for Governor Mitt Romney’s 2008 Presidential campaign, Charlie developed and managed the national campaign’s budget and systems for legal compliance with Federal Election Commission, IRS and various state regulations, as well as record-keeping and accounting. During the 2005 and 2006 election cycles, Charlie served as General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer for the Republican Governors Association. At the RGA, he developed the legal and budgeting strategy for the association’s participation in governors’ races in thirty-eight states. During the 2004 Presidential election cycle, Charlie served as Election Law Counsel for the Republican National Committee, where he focused on federal and state election law compliance for the national party, as well as policy and litigation issues involved in campaign finance reform. His tenure at the RNC began with the Bush-Cheney administration in 2001, and continued under four Chairmen.

Charlie previously served as legal and policy advisor to FEC Chairman Darryl R. Wold, where he counseled the Chairman on a wide range of issues regarding the administration of the Federal Election Campaign Act.

Charlie is frequently seen on Fox News, CNN, Fox Business Network and various national and local tv and radio programs speaking on political and election law issues, and his numerous articles and commentaries on various legal issues have been published in journals and newspapers. He was a Fellow at the Georgetown University School of Politics and Public Service, has lectured at the US Law Institute, Georgetown University Law Center and the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, spoken at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, been featured on an ABA Administrative Law Division panel, testified before the FEC and state boards of election, and participated in working groups for the OAS Unit for the Promotion of Democracy.