Columbus Law Firm Adds International Consulting Services, Provides Election and Campaign Finance Consulting and Litigation, Multi-state Licensure

June 25, 2012

COLUMBUS – Columbus-based law firm Brunner Quinn announced it has expanded its areas of practice to include international development consulting and campaign finance, election and ballot issue consulting and litigation. The firm has also expanded its attorney licensure and firm practice beyond Ohio’s borders to the states of New York, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and Florida.

Today former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner begins her third engagement in the Republic of Serbia through the United States Agency on International Development (USAID)1 of the U.S. Department of State for short-term technical assistance toward achieving Serbia’s membership in the European Union. In February and March Brunner served as a political finance expert, advising the Serbian Anti-Corruption Agency and educating members of Serbia’s media on campaign finance monitoring and reporting in connection with its recent Presidential and parliamentary elections. Recommendations she made for law and rule changes are being studied and implemented with proposals and plans for further reform.

Serbia, a former state of Yugoslavia, is an independent nation of more than 8 million people and officially became a candidate for member status in the European Union on March 1, 2012. Former Secretary Brunner’s work in Serbia has been through the National Center for State Courts and based out of Belgrade. She returned to Belgrade this week to assist in political financial management associated with the campaign monitoring and reporting process following the certification of the May 2012 election results.

In between those consultations, former “Judge” Brunner was asked to return to Belgrade and advise Serbian misdemeanor court judges regarding public outreach strategies, based on her experience as a former Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge in Ohio. Using her expertise as a former candidate in county and statewide campaigns, Ms. Brunner drafted a plan for Serbian judges to reach out to a skeptical public that has endured years of political corruption and turmoil to boost public confidence in the nation’s recently reformed judiciary.

Additionally, since leaving the Secretary of State’s office in January 2011, Brunner, a firm principal, and founding partner of Brunner Quinn, has developed a team of attorneys and staff who are handling campaign finance work for clients at the federal, state and local levels. In2011, Brunner spearheaded a successful statewide referendum petition on voting laws in 2011 that resulted in the only time the Ohio legislature has repealed a law subject to referendum in the ballot mechanism’s 100-year history.  Brunner Quinn is well situated to advise other clients on the myriad issues that face local and statewide ballot issue campaigns.

Separately, Rick Brunner is now licensed to practice in courts outside of Ohio in the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and New York. With extensive experience in complex litigation, his practice takes him throughout the country. Peter Contreras, the firm’s newest associate, is also licensed to practice law in Florida. With multi-state litigation expertise and campaign and government strengthening work both in and out of the U.S., Brunner Quinn readily can be said to have “gone global.”

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Brunner Quinn has lawyers admitted to practice in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida and the District of Columbia as well federal courts in Michigan and Illinois. BQ attorneys have been admitted pro hac vice and consulted in matters in11 other states as well as the in Republic of Serbia. To learn more visit our web site at www.brunnerlaw.com.