Lobbyist's work for Obama transition raises concerns over ethics guidelines

James Halpert, an attorney and registered lobbyist with DLA Piper, is advising the Obama-Biden Transition Team on matters involving the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and intellectual property. Critics are crying foul because they insist Halpert lobbied these issues just a few months ago, in violation of Obama's strict ethics guidelines, which state that parties joining the transition effort are prohibited from working in areas in which they focused as registered lobbyists in the last 12 months. Halpert is married to Karen Kornbluh, who served as Obama's policy director in his Senate office and is considered a potential candidate for Federal Communications Commission chairman.