Kenneth M. Jarin is Practice Leader of Ballard Spahr's Government Relations and Public Policy Group. Ken focuses his government relations practice on advocating for businesses, organizations, and institutions before elected officials and public agencies at the federal, state, and local levels of government. Ken concentrates on election law as well, providing legal and strategic advice to political candidates and campaigns, nonprofits, and companies on matters involving elections, campaign finance, and the political process.
Ken advises clients that interact with government to achieve their business objectives. His clients range from startups to large, global businesses in health care, technology, construction and engineering, professional services, and utilities. Ken represents business clients nationwide on government outreach, including procurement opportunities and legislative issues. He also assists organizations that need to anticipate or respond to government investigations, regulatory enforcement, and litigation.
In his election law practice, Ken represents candidates and campaigns at the federal, state, and municipal levels. He guides clients on complying with applicable requirements, including laws and regulations governing campaign fundraising and financial disclosure and compliance.
Ken began his legal career focusing on public sector labor and employment law and has more than 40 years' experience advising government agencies, as well as private employers, in labor relations matters including contract negotiations, interest arbitration, and employment discrimination litigation. Ken served as Deputy City Solicitor and chief labor attorney for the City of Philadelphia during the administration of Mayor William Green. He later served as the City's outside labor negotiator until 2015.
Ken has also held several leadership positions in government. He is past Chair and former member of the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) from 2005 to 2011, the governing board which manages the 14 state universities in Pennsylvania. In 2013 the PASSHE Board of Governors named Ken Chairman Emeritus in recognition of his outstanding service.
Ken has held leadership positions with national political organizations including Treasurer of the Democratic Governors Association and national deputy finance chair of the Democratic National Committee. He is a former presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts, the governing board of the National Endowment for the Arts, during the Administration of President Clinton.
Ken is a longtime board member and former regional board Chair of the Anti-Defamation League. From 2012 to 2019, he served on the Board of Visitors of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. He is also a past board member of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati.