Craig Saperstein … handles significant government relations matters and, according to clients, ‘is extremely effective’ on Capitol Hill.
Chambers USA

Craig Saperstein assists clients in developing and implementing sophisticated government relations strategies at the federal and state levels that are geared to provide a demonstrable return on investment.

Craig lobbies on behalf of corporate, nonprofit, foreign sovereign and public sector clients in Congress, the executive branch and state and local governments. He represents clients on a variety of policy issues, including financial services, cybersecurity, international trade, veterans, energy, economic development, transportation and health care matters.

Representative Experience

  • Drafted and advocated for enactment of legislation that saved millions of dollars for prepaid card industry stakeholders.
  • Crafted and implement state government relations program for international member association that has yielded seven legislative victories in seven states with respect to licensure of association’s members.
  • Successfully advocated 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 (2022-2023)
  • Devised charitable program that has furnished the homes of approximately 3,000 formerly homeless veterans.
  • Chambers USA, Government: Government Relations—National (2015 – 2019, 2023)

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

Honors & Awards

  • Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll (2018)

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

Speaking Engagements

  • The “Possible” Washington Effect, IMTC 2020 Conference, Webinar (11/19/2020).

  • 2020 WesPay Virtual Payments Symposium, with Deborah Thoren-Peden, Webinar (09/17/2020).

  • "Episode #3: The CARES Act and Oversight," The Pillsbury Industry Insights Podcast (04/30/2020).
  • IPA Legal Viewpoint Call: The CFPB’s New Innovation Policies, Webinar (11/26/2019).
  • Cybersecurity Rules, BSA Recordkeeping for Wire Transfers and Payment Orders, and Update on Federal BSA Legislation, Webinar (11/7/2019).
  • Midterms Politics: Forecasting How the New Congress Is Going to Impact the Payments Community, Power of Prepaid: Innovation in Payments Conference, Washington, DC (4/9/2019).
  • Voluntary Certification Legislation in the States: What You Need to Know to Respond Effectively, ASAE Government Relations Section Council, Washington, DC (2/4/2019).
  • Hot Topics in Public Policy, The Lame-Duck Agenda, Government Affairs Industry Network, Washington, DC (11/2018).
  • Legislative Discussion: Professional Certification Coalition, American Board of Nursing Specialties Fall 2018 Conference, Chicago, IL (10/2018).
  • What’s Happened in 2018 – An Update on Legislative and Regulatory Actions, Payments Symposium, Scottsdale, Arizona (09/2018).
  • Power of Prepaid, Pros and Cons: Forecasting the Impact of the New Administration on the Payments Space, Washington, DC (06/2017).
  • Card Forum, Pros and Cons: Forecasting the Impact of the New Administration on the Payments Space, Austin, TX, (05/2017).
  • Western Payments Alliance, Washington Payments Update webinar: Update on CFPB and Financial Reform Legislation, April 2017.
  • Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, Power of Prepaid conference, What the Arrival of the CFPB Final Rule Means for Consumer Access and the Development of New Products, April 2017.
  • Power of Prepaid, Network Branded Prepaid Card Association Conference, Washington, DC (04/2016).
  • CFPB and Prepaid: Deciphering the Proposed Rules, American Banker/Payments Source Webinar (01/2015).
  • Prepaid Regulation Fundamentals, Network Branded Prepaid Card Association Prepaid Fundamentals Webinar Series (8/2014).
  • Avoiding the UDAAP Trap: CFPB Rules on Outsourced Relationships of Financial Institutions, Pillsbury 2014 CLE Marathon, New York, NY (02/2014).
  • The Durbin Amendment and the Prepaid Card Industry, ACI Prepaid Card Compliance Forum, Washington, DC (01/2014).
  • Prepaid Regulations, Network Branded Prepaid Card Association Prepaid Fundamentals Webinar Series (05/2013).
  • Key Developments in Payments Regulation and Legislation, Western Payments Alliance Board of Directors Meeting, Las Vegas, NV (02/2013).
  • Prepaid Regulations, Bankerstuff/Network Branded Prepaid Card Association Summer Webinar Series (7/2012).
  • Navigating Changes in Banking Regulations, Northwest Association of Financial Professionals, Seattle, WA (10/2011).
  • The Ins and Outs of the Durbin Amendment, Western Payments Alliance Annual Symposium 2011, San Diego, CA (9/2011).
  • Post-Election Recap and Outlook for 112th Congress on Health Care Issues, Health Technology Network of Greater Washington (11/2010).
  • Post-Election Recap and Outlook for 112th Congress, Pillsbury’s Nonprofit Series (11/2010).
  • Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, NACHA Government Relations Advisory Group and Risk Management Advisory Group (10/2010).
  • Policy, Legislation and the Role of DOE in Supporting SMR Modernization, Building the Value Chain for Commercializing Small Modular Reactors Conference (10/2010). Moderator.

Education

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

    B.A., Duke University, 2002

Admissions

  • District of Columbia

    Maryland