Penelope S. Farthing

Partner, Patton Boggs

Since 1970, Penny Farthing has been a leader in public policy practice in Washington, enabling her to solve complicated problems for clients requiring assistance in legislative matters and administrative proceedings. She provides sound legal counsel and practical political advice based on her political and career posts in government, trade association assignments, and broad corporate experience.

A former staff attorney with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with extensive experience on Capitol Hill, Ms. Farthing concentrates her practice on legislative and regulatory issues for a diverse range of clients.

Ms. Farthing's accomplishments include directing an industry-wide coalition on gender-based insurance rating, serving as Washington counsel for the new Denver airport project, and assisting USAir in achieving its alliance with British Air. While with the Law Department of the Allstate Insurance Company, she worked successfully on federal auto safety and privacy issues.

At the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), she directed the Congressional affairs for the Food Safety and Quality Service, USDA's food inspection and grading agency. She also helped form a coalition of advertisers and led them in their successful battles against unconstitutional restrictions. Her efforts on appropriations projects have directed millions of dollars toward her local government clients.

Ms. Farthing and her government affairs work have been the subject of feature pieces in the New York Times, the Times of London, Washingtonian, and Working Woman.

Professional Affiliations:

• American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Lawyer Competence
• ABA Special Committee on Government Affairs
• Indiana University School of Law Board of Visitors
• American League of Lobbyists, two-term president and long-time board member
• Federal Communications Bar Association Legislative Committee, former co-chair
• Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia
• Women in Government Relations
• Federal Bar Association, co-chair of the Council on Younger Lawyers