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Craig J. Saperstein, Counsel

Craig J. Saperstein

Partner
Washington, DC

Partner, Washington, DC

T: +1.202.663.9244
T: +1.202.663.9244

Areas of Focus

Craig Saperstein combines strategic insight with excellent advocacy skills, providing thoughtful guidance that integrates legal, policy and operational perspectives.
—Legal 500 US: Government Relations (client quote)

Craig Saperstein, Practice Section Leader for Pillsbury’s Government Law & Strategies team, assists clients in developing and implementing sophisticated government relations strategies at the federal and state levels that aim to provide a strong return on investment and vital public policy objectives.

Craig lobbies on behalf of corporate, nonprofit, foreign sovereign and public sector clients in Congress, the executive branch, and state and local governments. He advises and advocates on behalf of clients on a variety of policy issues, including financial services, cybersecurity, national security, higher education, energy, international trade, veterans’ issues, economic development, transportation/infrastructure and health care matters. He also represents corporate and nonprofit clients subjected to high-stakes congressional investigations, assisting clients with negotiating the scope and duration of an investigation and working to ensure that each client’s reputation is preserved.

Representative Experience

  • Advised leading cybersecurity companies on federal government affairs and advocacy strategies, securing favorable legislative language, raising their profiles in Washington, DC, and helping obtain federal contracts and funding.
  • Advised fintech companies on federal and state government relations strategy, congressional inquiries, and development of a national coalition that successfully advanced model legislation on gift card fraud prevention enacted in multiple states.
  • Advised prominent research university on congressional investigations, crisis management and higher education policy, including inquiries into campus antisemitism and protests, alleged government “weaponization” of academic research and related federal oversight matters.

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  • 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.

Professional Highlights

  • Named to The Hill’s annual list of Top Lobbyists (2022–2025).
  • Devised charitable program that has furnished the homes of approximately 7,000 formerly homeless veterans.
  • Chambers USA, Government: Government Relations—National (2015–2019, 2023–2026).

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  • 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, Oct. 30, 2025.
  • “From Sacramento to Washington: Key Legislative Developments,” California Bankers Association Risk & Compliance Conference, Garden Grove, Calif, Oct. 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, Feb. 4, 2025.
  • “DC Disrupted: Trump 2.0 Day One,” Pillsbury, Jan. 23, 2025.
  • “DC Disrupted: Trump 2.0 & DOGE – Federal Funds & Government Contracts,” Pillsbury, Jan. 14, 2025.
  • “Emerging Policy Issues Affecting Professional Certification,” WiG Leadership & Innovation Summit, San Antonio, Tex., Nov. 3, 2023.
  • “Professional Certifications: Federal and State Initiatives,” WiG Leadership & Innovation Summit, Orlando, Fla., Nov. 17, 2022.
  • “Cementing Culture & Compliance (Cyprus),” Pillsbury, Dec. 7, 2021.
  • “Federal Cyber Procurement: Navigating the Market & Winning Contracts,” Pillsbury, May 10, 2021.
  • Wedbush Software Security Winter Symposium, Pillsbury, Dec. 16, 2020.
  • “The “Possible” Washington Effect,” IMTC 2020 Conference, webinar, Nov. 19, 2020.
  • “Financial Innovation & Regulation–Finding the Balance,” Pillsbury, Oct. 29, 2020.
  • 2020 WesPay Virtual Payments Symposium, with Deborah Thoren-Peden, webinar, Sept. 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, Nov. 26, 2019.
  • “Cybersecurity Rules, BSA Recordkeeping for Wire Transfers and Payment Orders, and Update on Federal BSA Legislation,” webinar, Nov. 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, Feb. 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.

Education

  • J.D., American University, Washington College of Law, 2008

    B.A., Duke University, 2002

Admissions

  • District of Columbia

    Maryland

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