Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP

Attorneys and Counselors at Law

Practice Areas

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP assists clients with the defense of administrative enforcement actions brought by federal, state and local governmental agencies for violations of laws involving campaigns, elections, lobbying and conflicts-of-interest.  The firm also represents clients in audits of federal, state and local campaign and lobbying reports.

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP also associates with experienced criminal law counsel in cases which raise potential issues of criminal exposure in the campaign, lobbying and conflict-of-interest areas.

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP assists clients in obtaining and maintaining desired nonprofit tax status.  The firm helps our clients incorporate or otherwise organize, creates operational bylaws and obtains recognition of tax exemption from federal and state authorities.

Nonprofit Tax

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP specializes in communications law and the rules of the Federal Communications Commission as they relate to political campaigns, including advertising disclaimer requirements, broadcast advertising rate issues and media access requirements.

Political Broadcast Advertising

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP also prepares required campaign reports for local, state and federal campaign committees and, in some cases, serves as treasurer of campaign committees.  Our highly trained staff maintains detailed financial reports for candidates, ballot measure committees and PACs.

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP advises lobbyists and lobbying firms on the rules, restrictions and reporting of their activity.  The firm also advises employers of lobbyists on similar legal questions.  Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP both assists and prepares lobbying reports for our clients.

Lobbying Reporting

Campaign Reporting

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP prosecutes, defends and assists in election related litigation, including writ proceedings relating to ballot pamphlet arguments and summaries, qualification of candidates and measures for the ballot, candidate ballot designations and statements and election contests.  See list of significant appellate decisions in which the firm’s attorneys have been involved.

Election Related Litigation

Enforcement Defense

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP specializes in providing legal counsel to proponents and opponents of state and local initiatives and referenda, including drafting and analysis, advice regarding qualification, campaign related legal issues and post-election matters.

Initiatives and Referenda

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP advises campaign contributors and recipients of campaign contributions concerning limits, prohibitions or other restrictions that relate to money in politics.  The firm also advises campaign committees on legal issues that arise during a campaign including restrictions on certain forms of mass media, contracting with vendors and similar legal matters.

Campaign Law

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP advises clients on issues surrounding the conduct of elections, including ballot security, election recounts and contests, and recall efforts.  The firm also advises clients on voter registration matters, candidate qualification and nomination processes and ballot pamphlet issues.

Election Law

Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP advises officeholders, public entities and private sector parties on the rules that relate to conflicts of interest and the governmental decision-making process.

Conflicts of Interest