Joe Steinberg counsels charitable and social welfare organizations, labor unions, political organizations, candidates, political professionals, and other clients on campaign finance, lobbying, ethics, tax, and corporate matters. He helps clients advance progressive policies, win elections, and achieve other strategic objectives, while minimizing their legal risks and compliance burdens.

Joe brings clients substantive expertise, political acumen, and practical experience. He has successfully represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Election Commission, and various state and local campaign finance, lobbying, tax, and ethics agencies. Joe also frequently helps establish and obtain tax exemption for new organizations. He works closely with clients in every aspect of their legal operations, including by providing trainings to Boards of Directors, Officers, and staff, assisting with internal and coalition planning processes, reviewing public communications and filings, preparing grant-related materials, and being on call to provide counsel at key moments.

Before joining Trister Ross, Joe worked as a legislative counsel at a nonprofit organization and clerked for a federal appellate court judge. During law school, he was Editor-in-Chief of Law & Inequality: A Journal of Theory and Practice.

Practice Areas
Campaign Finance & Election Law
Corporate Formation and Governance
Lobbying Law & Government Ethics
Tax-Exempt Organizations

Professional Experience
Law Clerk to the Honorable Morgan Christen, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Legislative Counsel, Alliance for Justice

Education
University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., magna cum laude
Editor-in-Chief, Law & Inequality: A Journal of Theory and Practice
Wesleyan University, B.A., with honors

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
Minnesota
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Publications & Speaking
501(c)(4), 527, and PAC Participation in Federal Elections; District of Columbia Bar’s Continuing Legal Education program on “Legal Issues in Creating and Managing an Advocacy Campaign,” 2019 & 2023