Matthew Petersen is a partner with Holtzman Vogel and a former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) with over two decades of high-level legal experience in political and administrative law. Matt, who also previously served in senior staff positions in both houses of Congress, is recognized nationally for his expertise in campaign finance, elections, lobbying, free speech, and government ethics.

Matt was nominated to the FEC by President George W. Bush in 2008 and served as its Chairman in 2010 and 2016.

  • Following the Supreme Court’s opinion in Citizens United v. FEC, he played a large role in shaping the legal framework governing Super PACs (and candidate involvement in their fundraising activities) and corporate and union political speech.
  • He strongly advocated protecting the Internet as a tool for political speech and allowing emerging technologies to develop free of unnecessary regulation.
  • He helped draft new procedures affording enhanced rights for those involved in FEC enforcement matters, audits, and advisory opinion requests.

Prior to his FEC service, Matt served as Republican chief counsel to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (2005-08) and counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on House Administration (2002-05).

  • He was extensively involved in the crafting of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the sweeping election reform bill passed in the wake of the 2000 presidential recount.
  • He was chief adviser to the Republican floor manager during the Senate debate on the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, the most recent comprehensive revision of federal lobbying and government ethics laws.

Clerkship/Government Experience
  • Former Chairman, Federal Election Commission (nominated by President George W. Bush in 2008)
  • Republican Chief Counsel, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (2005-08)
  • Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on House Administration (2002-05). 
  • American Bar Association
    • Election Law Committee, Member
  • Republican Lawyers Association
    • Board of Governors,Member
  • “Election Officials Need Resources and Flexibility, Not Federal Mandates,” The Hill, April 13, 2020. View Link
  • “A Decade Later, Citizens United Yields Election Benefits,” Real Clear Politics, June 15, 2021 View Link

Related Practice Areas
  • University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1999
    • Member, Virginia Law Review
  • Brigham Young University, magna cum laude, 1996, B.A
  • Utah Valley University, A.S., high honors
  • Utah Bar
  • District of Columbia Bar (Matthew’s practice is limited to matters of federal law.)
Matthew Petersen