Joe Keeley has a diversified practice area with four separate practices in intellectual property law, political and lobbying law, energy and environmental law, and government relations. His diversified background includes prior work on the House Judiciary Committee, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and a major software trade association.

Joe’s practice includes representation of corporate, association, political and non-profit clients before federal and state entities including Congress, the Copyright Office, the Federal Trade Commission, Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Small Business Administration on issues ranging from orphan works and consumer product safety legislation to business opportunity regulations. Joe drafts regulatory filings, Congressional testimony, and legislative language to better position each of his clients and to produce results that benefit them directly. Joe provides ongoing guidance to clients with questions concerning compliance with federal and District of Columbia lobbying laws and regulations.

Prior to joining Arent Fox, Joe worked for fifteen years in public policy in Washington. Immediately prior to joining the firm, he served in the Office of General Counsel of the US Copyright Office and as Intellectual Property Counsel to the Subcommittee on Courts, Internet, and Intellectual Property Subcommittee of the US House Judiciary Committee. He lead Congressional group negotiating sessions to develop consensus orphan works legislation, as well as to develop consensus music licensing reform legislation.  

While serving on Capitol Hill, Joe had primary responsibility for the advancement of a number of legislative initiatives, most of which have been enacted into law. These legislative initiatives included dedicated funding for intellectual property enforcement by the Department of Justice, content protection, trademark initiatives, spam legislation, and numerous copyright issues. Joe also drafted the first federal anti-spam legislation.