Michael Adams

Michael Adams brings a wealth of experience in political, governmental and constitutional law to the firm. He has counseled and represented candidates, PACs, issue groups, donors and political consultants, in connection with federal, state and local elections. He also counsels clients in other constitutional, litigation, and regulatory matters.

From 2007 to 2019, Michael served as general counsel to the Republican Governors Association, one of the nation’s foremost political organizations, ensuring compliance with campaign-finance, ethics and pay-to-play laws, and guiding the RGA’s efforts to elect Republican governors nationwide. He has served as general counsel of a presidential campaign, and represented the leadership PAC of a U.S. Vice President, as well as numerous congressional and gubernatorial campaigns and outside groups in races across the country. In 2019, Michael was elected Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

During the George W. Bush Administration, Michael served at the U.S. Department of Justice as Deputy Chief Privacy & Civil Liberties Officer and Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General. His knowledge gained from experience at senior levels of government and national politics provides significant value to the firm’s clients.

Education:
– University of Louisville, B.A., 1998 — McConnell Program for Political Leadership
– Harvard Law School, J.D. 2001 — Executive Editor, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy

Bar Admissions: Kentucky and District of Columbia
Federal Court Admissions: Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals; Eastern District of Kentucky; Western District of Kentucky

Memberships and Affiliations:
– Kentucky State Board of Elections, 2016–2018
– Republican National Lawyers Association (National Board, 2012–2015)
– Advisory Task Force on Kentucky Campaign Finance Law Revision, 2005
– Federalist Society
– Mensa inductee

Seminars and Speaking Engagements:
– Kentucky Election Law Update (2021, 2022, 2023)
– Campaign Manager School: Ensuring a System of Compliance (August 2017)
– Electioneering Communication Laws & State Restrictions on Political Activity (August 2017)
– Non-Federal Political Organization Issues in Federal Years (August 2016)
– Trends in State Election Law (August 2015)
– Four Months Later: The Impact of McCutcheon v. FEC (August 2014)
– Political Law 101: Campaign Finance, Gift Rules, Lobbying (July 2013)
– Political Activity & Nonprofit Organizations (August 2012)

Publication: “Missouri Compromise: Did the Posthumous Senatorial Election of Mel Carnahan and Subsequent Appointment of Jean Carnahan Compromise Federal or State Law?” — N. Ky. L. Rev. (2002)