Tom Daschle’s role as an Alston & Bird policy adviser is examined in this Time article.

While working at Alston, Daschle never technically lobbied anyone, even though he worked for a lobbying firm, made money from lobbying clients and become business partners of those investing in heavily regulated industries. He was able to skate through by exploiting an undefined middle ground in the way influence is brokered in Washington. Under the law, there is a distinction between “lobbying contacts,” which only lobbyists can do, and “lobbying activities,” which can be done by both lobbyists and non-lobbyists.