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Thomas A. Willis is a partner specializing in constitutional, campaign finance, and election law. He was admitted to the California Bar in 1992 and is a graduate of Duke University (B.A., 1987) and the University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 1992).

Since joining the firm, Mr. Willis has litigated a number of election law, conflict of interest, campaign finance and redistricting cases. Mr. Willis is currently participating in litigation successfully defending the California Legislature’s 2001 redistricting plan. Nadler v. Schwarzenegger, 137 Cal. App. 4th 1327 (2006). In 2003, he successfully challenged an interim contract approved by a municipality before a referendum election could take place. Lindelli v. Town of San Anselmo, 111 Cal. App. 4th 1099 (2003). In 2002, Mr. Willis successfully defended a member of the Public Utilities Commission in an action that sought to remove him from office based on an alleged conflict of interest. People ex rel. Found. for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights v. Duque, 105 Cal. App. 4th 259 (2003). Mr. Willis also participated in a successful federal court challenge to San Francisco campaign contribution limits.

In addition to litigation, Mr. Willis advises clients on the full panoply of laws governing the electoral and political process, including federal and state campaign finance, lobbying, conflicts of interest, and other ethics laws. He also helped draft several statewide initiatives, including the recently proposed Proposition 87, which sought to increase renewable energy and reduce oil consumption in California. Mr. Willis also represents clients before the Federal Elections Commission, the California Fair Political Practices Commission, and the San Francisco Ethics Commission. He advises candidates, campaign committees, initiative and referendum committees, corporations and nonprofits about these laws and the electoral process, including election challenges.