Led by Managing Director Ken Kies and Director Matt Dolan,
the firm's expertise is nationally recognized; a reflection of our
success in achieving client objectives.

Kenneth J. (Ken) Kies - Managing Director

Kenneth J. Kies is the Managing Director of the Federal Policy Group, which he has led since founding it in 1998.

Mr. Kies is an expert in tax legislation, tax planning and practice before the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department. He has represented clients in all aspects of tax controversy work involving both large case audit representation and coordinated industry audit issues.

He has practiced before the United States Tax Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals and the Supreme Court of Ohio.

He has served as Chief of Staff of the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation and as Chief Republican Tax Counsel to the Ways and Means Committee. He also led the firmwide tax practice at Baker & Hostetler.

The Hill calls Mr. Kies one of the nation's top "hired guns" and Washingtonian described him as "the leading pure tax lobbyist in Washington." He's won similar praise from Influence, Regardies, Roll Call and Fortune.

Mr. Kies frequently appears on radio and television, including National Public Radio, MSNBC, ABC, CNN, Fox News and C-Span and is regularly quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the New York Times, Newsweek, Time and other publications.

Mr. Kies earned an L.L.M., Taxation, from Georgetown University Law School in 1986, a JD, Cum Laude, from the Ohio State University College of Law in 1977 and a B.G.S. (The Honors Tutorial College), Cum Laude, from Ohio University in 1974.   (printable PDF)

back to top

Matthew J. (Matt) Dolan - Director

Matthew J. (Matt) Dolan is a Director in the Federal Policy Group, where he advises clients on a wide range of regulatory and legislative matters.

Mr. Dolan's practice encompasses a broad range of business tax matters, with a particular focus on issues relating to corporate income taxation, corporate governance and tax policy. He also works regularly on a range of federal regulatory issues and Administrative Procedures Act compliance.

Mr. Dolan has extensive experience on issues relating to health care policy, including numerous legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to health care financing. Mr. Dolan regularly has represented both for-profit and not-for-profit entities, including 501(c)(3) charitable and educational institutions and 501(c)(6) trade associations. As counsel to tax-exempt organizations, he has advised clients regarding initial formation, institutional governance, tax compliance and government relations.

Prior to joining the Federal Policy Group, Mr. Dolan was a partner in the Washington office of Baker & Hostetler LLP, where he focused his practice on tax, regulatory and government relations matters. During Mr. Dolan's tenure at Baker Hostetler, he served at various times as head of both the firm's government policy practice and the firm's Washington tax practice.

Before joining Baker Hostetler, Mr. Dolan served as Finance Committee Counsel to Senator David Durenberger. As counsel to Senator Durenberger, Mr. Dolan was responsible for legislative matters under the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee, including all tax and revenue measures and health care reform proposals.

Mr. Dolan is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association, the Maryland State Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas.

Mr. Dolan earned a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1986 and a B.A. from Yale College in 1982.   (printable PDF)

back to top

John B. Godfrey - Director

John B. Godfrey is a Director in the Federal Policy Group, where he provides tax legislative guidance to the firm.

Prior to joining the Federal Policy Group, Mr. Godfrey was a reporter for the Dow Jones Newswires, with articles appearing periodically in the Wall Street Journal. There he covered fiscal policy and matters of interest to business generally.

Mr. Godfrey's market-moving coverage included tax legislation, defined-benefit and defined contribution pensions, federally-guaranteed student loans and Medicare reimbursement policy. Mr. Godfrey worked regularly with Members of Congress, House and Senate staffs and Executive Branch officials to track and synthesize developments in policy issues in a wide variety of areas.

In all, Mr. Godfrey has 16 years experience covering tax policy and Capitol Hill. He has won journalism awards from the Illinois Press Association, the Virginia Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.

Mr. Godfrey graduated with a B.A. from Oberlin College in 1988.   (printable PDF)

back to top

Home| About FPG| Services | FPG Directors| Annual Tax & Budget Seminar | In Print | Contact

© Federal Policy Group. All rights reserved.