Congressional Investigations

Why Cooley

Congressional investigations are high-profile and high-stakes matters involving potentially significant business and reputational risks for companies and individuals. These matters require a strategic, comprehensive response from practitioners who know Congress and how to navigate its uniquely challenging environment.

At Cooley, our bipartisan congressional investigations team utilizes decades of experience to devise a strategy specific to each client, with the goal of mitigating any potential legal, business or reputational risks.

We guide clients through every aspect of a congressional inquiry, both private and public, developing a response designed at each stage to reduce the impact on the client. This includes advising clients in anticipation of an inquiry, informal and formal negotiations with Congress over an inquiry, responding to a voluntary request for documents or a subpoena, and preparing clients to testify in public hearings or in private staff-led interviews or depositions.

Our lawyers are deeply familiar with the investigative committees in both chambers of Congress and have substantial capability handling investigations on a broad range of topics and in a diverse range of industries. We know how these committees operate, we understand the political and media climates, and we have an insider’s perspective on how investigations will be conducted, which comes from firsthand experience leading these investigations from within Congress and from representing clients before the committees.

Cooley and the members of its congressional investigations team have assisted clients in matters before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, the House Judiciary Committee, the House Homeland Security Committee, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the House Financial Services Committee, the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, the Senate Committee on Aging, and the Office of Congressional Ethics, among others. 

Representative matters 

  • A former executive with the Washington Commanders football organization in a deposition before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
  • Multiple social media companies in response to requests for documents and information from the Senate Judiciary Committee
  • A technology nonprofit in connection with a request for documents and information from the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government
  • An academic researcher in connection with an investigation by the House Homeland Security Committee
  • A former senior government official in connection with a request for documents and information from the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee
  • A generative artificial intelligence company in connection with a request for information from a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  • A technology company in an investigation by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
  • A private genomics company in connection with a request for information from the Senate Committee on Science and Transportation
  • A leading education technology company in connection with a request for information from a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  • A senior executive for a private technology company in public testimony before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
  • A social media platform in connection with a request for information and documents from the House Judiciary Committee
  • A major life sciences company in connection with a request for documents from the Senate Committee on Aging
  • Two global banks in connection with congressional investigations involving diversity hiring practices
  • A major lender in connection with a congressional investigation into consumer lending practices
  • A Fortune 500 company in parallel congressional and Department of Justice investigations
  • Multiple banks in connection with an investigation concerning Payment Protection Program implementation by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis
  • An international bank in connection with a request for documents and information from the Senate Committee on Finance*
  • A global advisory firm in connection with a subpoena for documents from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, as well as preparing a senior executive to testify in a public hearing*
  • A global aerospace and defense company in connection with a request for documents and information from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure*
  • A senior executive from a Fortune 100 company for public testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs*
  • The former president of the National School Boards Association in a transcribed interview before the House Judiciary Committee*
  • A union before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in an investigation of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) school reopening guidance*
  • A multinational Fortune 500 company’s executives for testimony in hearings before parliamentary committees in Australia, the UK and Canada*
  • Witnesses in preparing for public testimony before the House Judiciary Committee’s Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and the House Administration Committee*
  • A subcontractor in connection with a request for information from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations related to two federal government contracts*
  • A media company in connection with responding to a document request from the Office of Congressional Ethics*
  • Presidential nominees with preparation for Senate confirmation hearings*

* Representation handled before joining Cooley