Ann Ravel

Ann Ravel, a former Democratic commissioner on the U.S. Federal Election Commission, has joined San Jose, California-based trial firm McManis Faulkner as of counsel.

Ravel was an Obama administration era appointment to the FEC back in 2013. During her five-year term with the commission, she has served as FEC vice chair in 2014 and chair in 2015. Ravel officially ended her term in March 2017, declaring in a resignation letter to President Donald Trump that “our political campaigns have been awash in unlimited, often dark, money.”

As of today, Trump has still has not yet replied, Ravel said. In addition to her job at McManis Faulkner, Ravel is also a senior fellow with the Berkeley, California-based nonprofit MapLight, where she is part of an ongoing project pushing for transparency in government and tackling disinformation in politics.

“Transparency is very important,” Ravel said. “There needs to be, particularly in campaigns, the same information provided across platforms, and that's not happening. So at some point, there definitely should be government regulation and enforcement of those regulations.”

At McManis Faulkner, Ravel said her work will primarily relate to government law and policy issues, as well as campaign finance. She will also continue to serve as an adjunct professor and lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Prior to her role at the FEC, Ravel spent 11 years as the top lawyer for the County of Santa Clara, a role she left in 2009. Ravel was appointed by California Gov. Jerry Brown in February 2011 to serve as chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission. During her term, Ravel made headlines for pursuing a complaint initially filed by nonprofit Common Cause against a mysterious Arizona group that funneled $11 million into a campaign committee, while shielding its donors' identities.

Before her appointment to the FPPC, Ravel worked as a deputy assistant attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where she handled torts and consumer litigation matters between 2009 and 2011. Ravel noted that her decision to join McManis Faulkner, which has hosted fundraisers for controversial candidates in public office, was one she did not take lightly. But she was impressed by the firm's commitment to pro bono work and diversity initiatives.

“For many years, when I was county counsel in Santa Clara County, I actually litigated against this firm, in particular [founding partner] Jim McManis, but others as well,” Ravel said. “While we disagreed on the legal matters, I've always respected their professionalism and their good lawyering and preparation. We were able to develop a friendship over the years.”

McManis Faulkner, which predominantly does litigation work, represents both corporations and individuals through trial and appeal. With Ravel's addition, the firm's website lists a total of 20 lawyers, including nine partners.

“Ann has a stellar reputation within the legal and political communities,“ said a statement from McManis Faulkner partner Elizabeth Pipkin, chair of the firm's civil litigation practice. “Her insights, gained tackling regulatory matters for government agencies, complement our practice. In addition, as a true champion for justice, she's a great fit for the firm.”