The Lobby Bar

Government Conflict of Interest Rules: The Underdiscussed Threat

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0400

If you hold a government position and you also work for a private company, you may be a “dual-hatted” employee that is exposed to federal, state and local government conflict-of-interest rules. In this episode of “The Lobby Bar,” hosts Charlie Ricciardelli and Tyler Rosen unpack a variety of topics surrounding these rules, including recusal requirements, lobbying prohibitions and the states with the most restrictive and complex rules. They also provide an outlook on why companies should be preclearing employees prior to hiring them, to ensure no conflict of interest issues arise during their employment.

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“The Lobby Bar” is presented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This podcast is considered advertising under applicable state laws.

Love in the Political Air: Analyzing Political Law Concerns Involving Romantic Relationships

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Valentine’s Day 2026 may now be a sweet memory, but love is always in the air when it comes to political law issues involving romantic relationships. Hosts Charlie Ricciardelli and Tyler Rosen outline the ethics considerations involving personal relationships, including for spouses, significant others and friends. Tune in as they break down how to ensure these relationships do not trigger ethics violations, gift laws and pay-to-play violations, as well as review considerations for employee spouses who are considering running for elected office.

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☑️ Charlie Ricciardelli | LinkedIn

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PAC Compliance Reviews: Examining the Top 10 Issues

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0400

As a follow-up to their last “Lobby Bar” episode of 2025, which focused on lobbying compliance audits, hosts Charlie Ricciardelli and Tyler Rosen return in 2026 with a deep dive into political action committee (PAC) compliance audits. Tune in as the hosts present their top 10 findings that they’ve encountered in such audits, as well as the five “W’s” of what make these audits so important for PACs.

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☑️ Charlie Ricciardelli | LinkedIn

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Compliance Close-Up: Lobby Reporting Audits

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0400

As 2025 comes to a close, “The Lobby Bar” hosts Charlie Ricciardelli and Tyler Rosen want to help government affairs teams and compliance professionals out with regard to a critical year-end to-do item: federal lobbying reports. Tune in as they break down the "five Ws" of the lobbying compliance audits and outline their “Top 10” most common findings of their experiences guiding clients through the process.

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☑️ Charlie Ricciardelli | LinkedIn

☑️ Tyler Rosen | LinkedIn

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The Swiss Army Knife of Political Entities: 501(c)(4) Risks and Rewards

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 15:30:00 -0400

As the holiday season approaches, hosts Charlie Ricciardelli and Tyler Rosen tackle an important question: What do you get for a government affairs department that has everything? The answer could be a 501(c)(4) organization, a versatile tool that has become increasingly popular for corporate advocacy, lobbying and political activity. However, this “hot new toy” has some risks. During this episode, the hosts outline what 501(c)(4) organizations are, how they differ from other tax-exempt entities, why they've become so valuable for government affairs work and how they can help advance a company’s public policy goals. They also provide practical guidance on how to use them effectively while avoiding the pitfalls that can lead to regulatory scrutiny.

☑️ Charlie Ricciardelli | LinkedIn

☑️ Tyler Rosen | LinkedIn

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Welcome to the Lobby Bar: Battleground 2025 – Navigating Pay-to-Play Laws

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

On the inaugural episode of “The Lobby Bar” podcast, partners Charlie Ricciardelli and Tyler Rosen unpack the complexities of pay-to-play rules in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City. These jurisdictions all have “off-year” elections in 2025, with some featuring liability laws that can potentially knock companies out of government contracts based on violations.

Key Points

New Jersey Features Rules That Could Impact Government Contracts: New Jersey has strict regulations on pay-to-play rules that could trigger bans on companies from holding or receiving government contracts that can last for the duration of an elected official’s term
Virginia Less Strict But Companies Must Be Mindful: Virginia's rules include gift provisions and apply during pending bids
New York City Has a Different Structure: New York City's rules allow candidates to self-police political contributions to ensure they are under the prescribed limits. There is no legal liability for a company as a whole, but there is liability for a company’s covered donors
Importance of Pre-Clearance: Pay-to-play rules are varied and can implicate federal regulations as well. Companies and organizations should be mindful of having a pre-clearance process in place to ensure compliance

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Charlie Ricciardelli | LinkedIn

☑️ Tyler Rosen | LinkedIn

☑️ Skadden | LinkedIn | X | Facebook

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

“The Lobby Bar” is presented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This podcast is considered advertising under applicable state laws.

Welcome to The Lobby Bar

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Welcome to "The Lobby Bar: a Political Law Podcast" makes political law accessible to legal, compliance and government affairs professionals across all industries. Hosts Charlie Ricciardelli and Tyler Rosen deliver practical insights on the compliance challenges and regulatory developments that matter most in today's complex political and regulatory landscape. Whether you're navigating lobbying requirements, campaign finance rules, pay-to-play laws, or other government affairs compliance matters, “The Lobby Bar” provides the essential information you need to stay ahead of evolving political law requirements.

If you're enjoying "The Lobby Bar: a Political Law Podcast," be sure to subscribe in your favorite podcast app so you don't miss any future conversations. Additional information about Skadden can be found at Skadden.com.

Disclaimer

"The Lobby Bar: a Political Law Podcast" is presented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This podcast is considered advertising under applicable state laws.