Craig J. Saperstein

• Represented the Professional Certification Coalition in opposing harmful state legislation, building a national coalition of nearly 90 members, and drafting and advocating for bipartisan federal legislation expanding 529 savings plans to cover professional certifications. This federal legislation—the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act—was enacted into law in July 2025 as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” after a multi-year advocacy campaign.
• Advised a media technology company on government affairs strategy to secure FCC rule changes authorizing its geotargeted advertising system, building congressional support that overcame industry opposition and enabled nationwide deployment.
• Advised a U.S. aviation services provider on government affairs strategy, securing legislative changes in the National Defense Authorization Act to reform defense contracting practices for fixed-base operators supporting military missions.
• Advised a fintech company on public policy advocacy, government affairs and regulatory compliance, including application of federal and state consumer finance laws.
• Drafted and advocated for enactment of legislation that saved millions of dollars for prepaid card industry stakeholders.
• Crafted and implemented state government relations program for international member association that yielded numerous legislative victories in multiple states with respect to licensure of association’s members.
• Successfully advocate for millions of dollars in grant funding and/or appropriations authorization for corporate and public sector clients.

• Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S., Government Relations (2019–2023).

Honors & Awards

• Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll (2018).

• LEAP for Justice Award, Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project (2016).

Speaking Engagements

• “DC Disrupted: Government Shutdown,” Pillsbury, October 30, 2025.
• “From Sacramento to Washington: Key Legislative Developments,” California Bankers Association Risk & Compliance Conference, Garden Grove, Calif, October 8, 2025.
• “DC Disrupted: One Big, Beautiful Event – Decode BBB’s Tax Makeover,” Pillsbury, July 16, 2025.
• “Partnering with Local, State and Federal Authorities to Fight Fraud,” Innovative Payments Conference, April 30, 2025.
• “DC Disrupted: Higher Education Under Pressure,” Pillsbury, April 17, 2025.
• “DC Disrupted: Taxmageddon – Trump 2.0 & GOP Congress,” Pillsbury, February 4, 2025.
• “DC Disrupted: Trump 2.0 Day One,” Pillsbury, January 23, 2025.
• “DC Disrupted: Trump 2.0 & DOGE – Federal Funds & Government Contracts,” Pillsbury, January 14, 2025.
• “Emerging Policy Issues Affecting Professional Certification,” WiG Leadership & Innovation Summit, San Antonio, Tex., November 3, 2023.
• “Professional Certifications: Federal and State Initiatives,” WiG Leadership & Innovation Summit, Orlando, Fla., November 17, 2022.
• “Cementing Culture & Compliance (Cyprus),” Pillsbury, December 7, 2021.
• “Federal Cyber Procurement: Navigating the Market & Winning Contracts,” Pillsbury, May 10, 2021.
• Wedbush Software Security Winter Symposium, Pillsbury, December 16, 2020.
• “The “Possible” Washington Effect,” IMTC 2020 Conference, webinar, November 19, 2020.
• “Financial Innovation & Regulation–Finding the Balance,” Pillsbury, October 29, 2020.
• 2020 WesPay Virtual Payments Symposium, with Deborah Thoren-Peden, webinar, September 17, 2020.
• Washington Weekly Briefing – June 24, Pillsbury, June 24, 2020.
• Washington Weekly Briefing – June 3, Pillsbury, June 3, 2020.
• Washington Weekly Briefing – May 6, Pillsbury, May 6, 2020.
• “The Long Shadow of Compliance: Avoiding Stimulus Program Pitfalls,” Pillsbury, April 30, 2020.
• “Episode #3: The CARES Act and Oversight,” Industry Insights podcast, April 30, 2020.
• “IPA Legal Viewpoint Call: The CFPB’s New Innovation Policies,” webinar, November 26, 2019.
• “Cybersecurity Rules, BSA Recordkeeping for Wire Transfers and Payment Orders, and Update on Federal BSA Legislation,” webinar, November 7, 2019.
• “Midterms Politics: Forecasting How the New Congress Is Going to Impact the Payments Community, Power of Prepaid: Innovation in Payments Conference,” Washington, DC, April 9, 2019.
• “Voluntary Certification Legislation in the States: What You Need to Know to Respond Effectively,” ASAE Government Relations Section Council, Washington, DC, February 4, 2019.
• “Hot Topics in Public Policy, The Lame-Duck Agenda,” Government Affairs Industry Network, Washington, DC, November 2018.
• “Legislative Discussion: Professional Certification Coalition,” American Board of Nursing Specialties Fall 2018 Conference, Chicago, Ill., October 2018.
• “What’s Happened in 2018 – An Update on Legislative and Regulatory Actions,” Payments Symposium, Scottsdale, Ariz., September 2018.
• “Power of Prepaid, Pros and Cons: Forecasting the Impact of the New Administration on the Payments Space,” Washington, DC, June 2017.
• “Card Forum, Pros and Cons: Forecasting the Impact of the New Administration on the Payments Space,” Austin, Tex. May 2017.
• “Update on CFPB and Financial Reform Legislation,” Western Payments Alliance, Washington Payments Update webinar, April 2017.
• “What the Arrival of the CFPB Final Rule Means for Consumer Access and the Development of New Products,” Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, Power of Prepaid conference, April 2017.
• “Power of Prepaid,” Network Branded Prepaid Card Association Conference, Washington, DC, April 2016.
• “CFPB and Prepaid: Deciphering the Proposed Rules,” American Banker/Payments Source Webinar, January 2015.
• “Prepaid Regulation Fundamentals,” Network Branded Prepaid Card Association Prepaid Fundamentals Webinar Series, August 2014.
• “Avoiding the UDAAP Trap: CFPB Rules on Outsourced Relationships of Financial Institutions,” Pillsbury 2014 CLE Marathon, New York, N.Y., February 2014.
• “The Durbin Amendment and the Prepaid Card Industry,” ACI Prepaid Card Compliance Forum, Washington, DC, January 2014.
• “Prepaid Regulations,” Network Branded Prepaid Card Association Prepaid Fundamentals Webinar Series, May 2013.
• “Key Developments in Payments Regulation and Legislation,” Western Payments Alliance Board of Directors Meeting, Las Vegas, Nev, February 2013.
• “Prepaid Regulations,” Bankerstuff/Network Branded Prepaid Card Association Summer Webinar Series, July 2012.
• “Navigating Changes in Banking Regulations,” Northwest Association of Financial Professionals, Seattle, Wash. October 2011.
• “The Ins and Outs of the Durbin Amendment,” Western Payments Alliance Annual Symposium 2011, San Diego, Calif, September 2011.
• “Post-Election Recap and Outlook for 112th Congress on Health Care Issues,” Health Technology Network of Greater Washington, November 2010.
• “Post-Election Recap and Outlook for 112th Congress,” Pillsbury’s Nonprofit Series, November 2010.
• “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010,” NACHA Government Relations Advisory Group and Risk Management Advisory Group, October 2010.
• “Policy, Legislation and the Role of DOE in Supporting SMR Modernization,” Building the Value Chain for Commercializing Small Modular Reactors Conference, October 2010. Moderator.