Campaign Legal Center Expands Staff, Increasing the Organization’s Ability to Strengthen and Protect Our Democracy

WASHINGTON – The Campaign Legal Center filled several new staff positions this quarter, building the organization’s capacity to effectively strengthen and protect our democracy during Election 2016 and beyond. 

“The narrative of the 2016 election cycle so far has been dominated by two themes – voter anger with the status quo, and the enormous amounts of money raised by candidates and their super PACs and related dark money entities,” said Trevor Potter, founding president of the Campaign Legal Center. “We are at a point in American history where our political process is characterized by division, disagreement and polarization. Americans – both Republicans and Democrats – overwhelmingly agree our democracy is broken. Americans do not like where we are and there has never been more demand for the expertise and strategic thinking that the Campaign Legal Center provides. We are extremely pleased to welcome these talented new team members who will help us become even more effective in achieving our mission.” 

Campaign Legal Center is pleased to announce the following changes and additions to its staff:

Catherine Hinckley Kelley, State and Local Reform Program Director

Catie Kelley has been promoted to lead CLC’s State and Local Reform Program. Catie joined CLC as a Legal Fellow in March 2014. Recognizing that the federal government continuously fails to act on issues of campaign finance, government ethics and voting rights, CLC is building a program under Catie’s leadership to help state and local partners draft effective reform measures, provide comments in regulatory proceedings and defend pro-democracy laws and policies in court. Catie has litigated a wide range of campaign finance and voting rights matters before state and federal courts and agencies. She previously worked as a staff attorney at the Federal Election Commission from 2010 to 2014. Read full bio.

Yasmin Khan, Chief Development Officer

Yasmin Khan joined CLC in January 2016 to lead and elevate the organization’s outreach and fundraising. She will connect a wide range of audiences to inspire and expand support for CLC's mission and enable the organization to meet the growing demands for its work. Yasmin brings more than 20 years of fundraising, non-profit management and communications experience to CLC and has held senior positions at a variety of nonprofit organizations and institutions. Most recently, she served as Director of Development and Communications at Tahirih Justice Center, providing the overall direction and coordination of the organization’s national fundraising and communications operations. She also served as the Director of Foundations at Human Rights First, where she managed a sizable portfolio of grants and prior to that served as Managing Director of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights in Washington, D.C. Read full bio.

Sandhya Bathija, Director of Strategic Communications 

Sandhya Bathija joined CLC in February 2016. She will build and implement an integrated press and digital strategy for the organization, and increase CLC’s public education and strategic media outreach efforts. Sandhya has an extensive background in nonprofit communications, advocacy and political and grassroots communications and campaigns. Most recently, Sandhya developed and implemented an integrated press and digital communications vision for Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, and previously served as the campaign manager for Legal Progress, the legal policy project at the Center for American Progress, where she led a communications and grassroots campaign on the federal courts.  Read full bio.

David Kolker, Legal Counsel

David Kolker joined CLC in January 2016. He brings decades of litigation experience and expertise to the organization. David has litigated cases in both the public and private sectors. He worked for nearly 20 years at the Federal Election Commission, where he litigated cases before federal courts on federal campaign finance laws, advised the Commission and its General Counsel and for several years led the agency’s Litigation Division. David joins CLC from the Federal Communications Commission where he served as the Deputy Bureau Chief, Enforcement Bureau. Read full bio.

Brendan Fischer, Associate Counsel

Brendan Fischer will join CLC on March 14, 2016. Brendan has expertise in campaign finance and government transparency issues and will litigate a broad range of election and campaign finance cases. Mr. Fischer was previously General Counsel with the Center for Media and Democracy, where he led the watchdog group’s legal research and advocacy efforts. He is also a writer whose work has appeared in outlets such as The Nation, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Washington Times, and has been a frequent commentator for national and state television, radio and print outlets.