Emma Olson Sharkey is a partner at Elias Law Group. She focuses her practice on nonprofit tax and campaign finance law, and legal issues related to ballot measures. Emma advises clients participating in political and issue advocacy across the country, including progressive ballot measure campaigns, political campaigns, and nonprofit organizations. She helps clients understand the law, anticipate challenges, and mitigate legal risk.
Emma is one of the nation’s leading ballot measure attorneys, counseling clients on how to effectively engage in measures across the country. She routinely defends clients engaged in ballot measure activity before state agencies and advises on ballot measure litigation strategy. She has served as outside counsel to progressive ballot measure efforts in more than 15 states, most recently focusing on campaigns that seek to protect the ballot measure process.
Emma regularly speaks and writes about ballot measures, most recently in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Salon, NBC News, Slate, CBS News Radio, The Hill, Democracy Docket, Pluribus, and Common Dreams. Her research has also been cited by TIME Magazine.
As outside counsel to nonprofit organizations and political committees, Emma helps clients navigate political and campaign finance laws and IRS regulations, aiding clients in achieving their objectives. Emma also regularly advises clients in post-election efforts across the country, including statewide and congressional recounts and contests.
Prior to Elias Law Group, Emma worked at Perkins Coie LLP as a political law associate, counseling nonprofit organizations, campaigns, and political committees. She also led the 2016 Wisconsin voter protection program for Hillary for America and the Wisconsin Democratic Coordinated Campaign, advocating for fair voting practices.
She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University School of Law. #gogophers