U.S. Territories & Freely Associated States

Insular priorities span a wide range of federal policy areas including health programs, homeland security, tax, infrastructure, education and nutrition assistance. Our informed blend of political sophistication and legal resources has resulted in notable achievements for our clients before Congress, the executive branch and the courts.

Freely Associated States

The Compacts of Free Association the United States has signed are with three small Pacific island nations—Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—establish unprecedented diplomatic relationships that enable the parties to maintain especially close and mutually beneficial ties. 

The Compacts grant the U.S. exclusive military access to the land, waterways and airspace of the three sovereign FAS while providing them with U.S. immigration privileges and economic assistance. 

The distinctive nature of the U.S.-FAS relationship creates complex legal challenges for which we are especially well suited to address as current Compacts approach their expiration dates in 2023 and 2024. The related renegotiations will require a rare combination of institutional knowledge, legal proficiency and a broad political footprint for which the firm is known.

Significantly, our lobbyists have teamed up with our nationally renowned appellate litigation practice in pro bono representation urging the United States to remedy the legacy of U.S. nuclear testing in Bikini Atoll of the RMI, a fight that continues today and spans health care, environmental and energy concerns.

U.S. Territories

Through our extensive work on behalf of private entities and civic organizations in Puerto Rico, our practice has acquired a deep appreciation of the legal challenges that face U.S. territories.

We know the nuances of federal policy-making without congressional voting representation and adeptly navigate the related obstacles that must be overcome to achieve results.

The team has advanced territorial client interests before the House Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the primary committees of jurisdiction.

Our depth and breadth of experience on tax, health care, bankruptcy, disaster relief and other policy areas further enables us to impact territorial treatment in a wider range of congressional committees, including the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Senate Finance Committee, and the House Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce Committees.

We also bring together a complete and fully integrated set of legal services to our territorial clients:

• Government contracts lawyers draw from a wide range of resources and technical knowledge to represent clients in all aspects of government procurement, grants and cooperative agreements on the federal, state, territorial and local levels.
• Infrastructure and transportation lawyers engage in complex projects by diffusing political risk, aligning the interests of diverse stakeholders, resolving regulatory hurdles, creating innovative financing structures and helping clients maximize their opportunities while avoiding unnecessary complications and delays.
• Our tax team navigates the often complex application of federal tax law to U.S. territories, analyzing the impact of federal proposals on individuals and corporations.
• Our highly regarded appellate litigation team has prepared amicus briefs and congressional testimony on constitutional matters related to Puerto Rico’s political status.

We deploy targeted, high-level strategies to overcome procedural obstacles facing U.S. territories. Our efforts have led to increased federal funding, numerous policy recommendations in influential federal reports and an enhanced level of respect for U.S. territories.