Name:
Philip S Friedman
AIPAC Role:
General Counsel & Director of Political Operations
Professional Profile/Associations:
AIPAC General Counsel and Director of Political Operations, serving in this dual role for nearly three decades. According to AIPAC's 2023 Form 990, received total compensation of $708,107. Holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School (1984–1987) and maintains a general litigation practice with emphasis on class actions, appellate work, and extensive experience in election law, FARA, lobbying, and ethics rules. Served as registered agent for Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran, the 501(c)(4) organization that ran a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign opposing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Defended AIPAC before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1999, telling reporters that plaintiffs challenging AIPAC's political operations "haven't been successful in advancing their anti-Israel agenda on Capitol Hill." Son of Morton Friedman, who served on AIPAC's national board and the Anti-Defamation League board. Previously partnered with David M. Ifshin at Ifshin & Friedman, PLLC; Ifshin was AIPAC's prior general counsel and Clinton campaign counsel until his death in 1996. Principal of Friedman Law Offices PLLC and Carderock Investments, LLC, a commercial real estate firm. Founder and President of Consumers Count, a consumer rights organization.
The information in these profiles is drawn primarily from AIPAC's most recent IRS Form 990, supplemented by publicly available sources including news reports, official announcements, and public records. As a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, AIPAC is legally required to file Form 990 annually with the Internal Revenue Service, and these filings are public documents.
However, IRS regulations allow organizations up to eleven months after their fiscal year ends to submit these forms, meaning publicly available data typically lags by approximately one year. This inherent delay underscores why AIPAC—like most major organizations of its size and influence—should maintain a current, public-facing leadership page identifying its board members and senior executives. The absence of such transparency from AIPAC necessitates this project. We are committed to accuracy and will update these profiles as new information becomes available. If you have corrections, updates, or additional sourced information, please contact us at advocacy@dawnmena.org.
