Nationally recognized strategist and lobbyist advising clients on high-stakes public policy challenges with expertise in building and managing bipartisan teams and coalitions.
Proven record of helping corporate and nonprofit clients—including Comcast NBCUniversal, American Airlines, Business Roundtable, Micron Technology, Abbott Laboratories and Council of Foundations—to achieve their public policy goals and strengthen their brands in Washington.
Strategic, substantive and political know-how derived from working for the Speaker of the House, navigating the Ways and Means Committee, and various political campaigns.
Regularly quoted in various news outlets, including Politico, Bloomberg News, The Wall Street Journal, Roll Call, The New York Times and The Hill.

Arshi is a leading strategist and lobbyist with a national practice focused on synthesizing public policy and politics into successful federal strategies. She is consistently sought out for her ability to form bipartisan coalitions, navigate intractable public policy challenges and help companies build their brands in Washington.

Drawing upon more than 25 years of public & private sector experience, Arshi’s practice focuses on a wide range of issues, including tax, technology, entertainment, telecommunications, health care and international trade matters. She represents trade associations, coalitions, emerging technology firms and artificial intelligence (AI) companies, as well as established market leaders across sectors.

Arshi’s current clients include the Coalition for 1099-K Fairness, Comcast NBCUniversal, American Airlines, Center for AI Safety Action Fund, Business Roundtable, Abbott Laboratories, Micron Technology, Council on Foundations and Revive Environmental, to other Fortune 500 companies and their C-suite executives. The common thread running through Arshi’s work is the ability to engage on strategy, policy and politics, which affords clients with an advocate who can craft and execute targeted strategies to achieve their public policy goals.

Before joining Akin in 2010, Arshi served as senior advisor and counsel to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). During her time in the Speaker’s office, Arshi focused on tax, international trade, innovation, health care, financial services and retirement issues, working closely with the relevant committees, House and Senate leadership, the administration and individual members of Congress to advance legislation.

Earlier in her career, Arshi worked at a leading D.C. law firm, served as Ways and Means counsel and policy advisor to various members of Congress, and worked on a number of federal campaigns.

Representative Work

Founded a coalition of companies and like-minded stakeholders to mitigate the impact of an overly broad tax reporting requirement enacted during the pandemic that would have negatively impacted millions of consumers.
Worked closely with the deal team on multiple corporate mergers & acquisitions to develop and execute targeted strategies that ranged from minimizing any flash points with policymakers to proactively building support for a given transaction.
Represented a semiconductor company to ensure that federal policies designed to address pandemic-era supply chain challenges and longer-term priorities related to onshoring were crafted in a way that accounted for the unique nature of memory and data storage manufacturing.
Crafted and operationalized an educational and advocacy campaign to promote domestic policies to support a strong domestic synthetic biology eco-system.
Built out a coalition of small and mid-size companies supporting the integration of innovative technologies as a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“She is a great strategist with an insight few have in the leadership and caucuses of Congress…and [she] can both devise and execute complex and nuanced strategies.”

Chambers USA

Education
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1997
B.S., University of California, Davis

Bar Admissions
California
District of Columbia

Recognitions

Chambers USA, Government Relations: Federal, 2019-2023.
The Hill, Top Lobbyist, 2016-2023.
National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics’ (NILE) Top Lobbyist, 2023.
Diversity Journal, Asian Leaders Worth Watching, 2021.
The Legal 500 US, Leading Lawyer, 2023, Recommended, Government Relations, 2019-2023.
Washington Business Journal, Minority Business Leader Award, 2018.

Affiliations and Public Service

Former Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Member, Board of Directors, NewDEAL Leaders
Member, Board of Directors, AAPI Victory Fund
Co-chair, Akin Asian Firmwide Resource Group

Speeches and Publications

“Users of Venmo, Cash App and Other Digital Wallets Get a Tax Reprieve,” quoted in The New York Times, November 2023.
“IRS Delays $600 Reporting Threshold for PayPal, Cash App,” quoted in Bloomberg Law, November 2023.
“IRS Delays Tax Rule for Online Sellers—Again,” quoted in The Wall Street Journal, November 2023.
“Taxpayer Advocate And Others Weigh In On IRS Decision To Delay Form 1099-K Reporting,” quoted in Forbes, November 2023.
“Debt limit veterans look for hopeful signs in Tuesday’s meeting,” quoted in Roll Call, May 2023.
“Still Working the Halls on 1099-K,” quoted in Politico, March 2023.
“Companies Like Etsy, Ebay, and PayPal Are Fighting a New Tax Law They Fear Could Lead to an Avalanche of 40 Million New Tax Forms and Mass Confusion Among Their Users,” quoted in Business Insider, January 2023.
“How New I.R.S. Rules Could Affect Venmo, Etsy and CashApp Users,” quoted in The New York Times, December 2022.
“The Prescription: Fiscal Policy for Today's Economy with Arshi Siddiqui,” interviewed by Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, December 2022.
“Energy Policy Remains on the Ballot,” quoted in Texas Lawbook, November 2022.
“Corporate America fumes over Biden’s tax and climate package,” quoted in Financial Times, August 2022.
“Lawmakers Unveil Landmark Bipartisan Privacy Proposal,” Akin Policy & Regulation Alert, June 6, 2022.
“K Street Counting on Senate to Pare Back Democrats’ Tax Plan,” quoted in Politico, September 2021.
“Democrats Wary to Roll Back Trump-Era Business Write-Off,” quoted in Bloomberg Daily Tax Report, May 2021.
“Big Law Is Investing in Infrastructural Bill Expertise Amid High Business Demand,” quoted in The American Lawyer, May 2021.
“The Biden Tax Hikes Have a Math Problem; The S&P 500 Might Too,” quoted in Investor’s Business Daily, April 2021.
“Biden faces clash with business over proposed tax increases,” quoted in Financial Times, April 2021.
“Infrastructure Push Sets Off Feeding Frenzy in Washington,” quoted in Politico, March 2021.
“Slim Majorities in the New Congress Will Make Big Legislation Difficult,” Los Angeles Times, January 2021.
“SALT Cap Compromise on The Table in Next Congress,” quoted in Law360, November 2020.
“Biden’s Top Three Legislative Priorities,” interviewed by Reuters Legal, November 2020.
“Business groups breathe sigh of relief over prospect of divided government,” quoted in The Hill, November 2020.
“What’s at Stake for Hollywood in the Presidential Election?” quoted in Variety, October 2020.
‘Trump show’ convention sparks little interest on K Street,” quoted in The Hill, August 2020.
“Lobbyists Make Do with Virtual Convention,” quoted in The Hill, August 2020.
“Coronavirus Response Legislation Spurs Hiring Spree on K Street,” quoted in Bloomberg Government, March 2020.
“Democrats plot post-Trump era on domestic issues,” quoted in CQ Weekly, March 2020.
“K Street looks to ride coronavirus relief efforts,” quoted in Politico, March 2020.
“Democratic 2020 Win Would Mean Tax Overhaul, Ex-Trump Aide Says,” quoted in Bloomberg News, February 2020.
“FDA Submits Report on CBD Sampling Study to Congress,” Akin Food & Drug Law Alert, July 9, 2020.
“Outlook of Congress’ “Phase 4” COVID-19 Stimulus Package,” Akin Policy Alert, April 3, 2020.
“The Last Straw? Recent Actions and Outlook for Single-Use Plastics,” Akin Policy Alert, March 6, 2020.
“FDA Submits Progress Report on Policy Development Related to CBD Products,” Akin Food & Drug Law Alert, March 6, 2020.
“FDA Explains Current Thinking on CBD and Issues Targeted Warning Letters,” Akin Health Industry Alert, December 2, 2019.
“Pressure on K Street to reflect growing diversity in Congress,” quoted in The Hill, January 2019.
“Cultivating Relationships with New Members of Congress,” quoted in Roll Call, November 2018.
“Democratic House Win Sets Up Clash Over Trump Tax Cuts,” quoted in The Wall Street Journal, November 2018.
“Probes, Possible Infrastructure Deal: What to Watch in the 116th,” quoted in Bloomberg Government, November 2018.
“Pelosi Poised to Lead the Opposition to Trump,” quoted in Financial Times, November 2018.
“2018 Midterm Elections: Analysis and Outlook for the 116th Congress,” Akin Policy Alert, November 15, 2018.
“Despite a Divided Government, the Next Congress Will Provide Opportunities for Cooperation,” The Hill, November 14, 2018.
“2018 Midterm Elections: Outlook & Key Race Analysis,” Akin Policy Alert, October 23, 2018.
“Corporate America Hikes Contributions to Key Democrats,” quoted in Politico, August 2018.
“2018 Midterm Elections: Precedents & Outlook,” Akin Policy Alert, August 21, 2018.
“Top 10 Topics for Directors in 2018,” December 13, 2017.
“Tax Outlook for 2016,” Akin Client Alert, January 28, 2016.
“The Emerging Fall Fiscal Cliff,” Law360, September 10, 2015.
“Tax Policy Update: The Emerging Fall Fiscal Cliff,” Akin Tax Alert, September 9, 2015.
“Communications and Technology 2015 Forecast,” Akin Communications & Information Technology Alert, February 9, 2015.
“The Year Ahead in Tax Policy: Recurrent Issues in a New Congress,” Akin Policy Alert, January 16, 2015.
“The Prospects for Corporate Tax Reform,” Akin Policy Alert, October 27, 2014.
“Spotlight on Women Lobbyists,” interviewed by The Hill, April 2014.
“Tax Code Proposal,” interviewed by Bloomberg News, June 2013.
“Despite Happy Talk, Slow Progress in Fiscal Cliff Talks,” quoted in National Journal, November 2012.
“Post-Election Fiscal Talks,” quoted in Bloomberg Businessweek, October 2012.
“Rewriting Tax Law Faces Many Obstacles,” Lawyers Media, July 2011.