Congressional
Investigations

Congressional investigations and oversight proceedings pose unique threats to a company’s business and brand because of their often public and inherently political nature. Paul, Weiss leverages the specialized skills and insider understanding that such matters require, fielding a team with significant hands-on experience to ensure that clients’ legal and business interests are protected.

Companies and individuals confronting congressional scrutiny face a raft of legal, reputational and collateral risks. Paul, Weiss offers unmatched experience, skills and judgment to guide clients safely through the process, mitigate business fallout and avoid political pitfalls.

Our firm has helped public officials and senior executives of the world’s largest companies and financial institutions navigate congressional investigations and oversight proceedings in all major congressional investigative committees, as well as inquiries by the GAO, various inspectors general, and state oversight bodies. The team includes lawyers who have themselves responded to and testified before oversight bodies in their past senior roles within the Executive Branch, and others with extensive government and private practice experience in responding to such inquiries. Among the group are a former U.S. Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, three associate White House counsel, communications director to then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, and senior officials at the Department of Justice, the Treasury Department, the FTC and the New York Attorney General’s Office, among others.  Members of our team have served in both Democratic and Republican administrations.

We offer extensive experience and familiarity with the cultures, protocols, and key investigative staff of key committees and subcommittees, and are adept at handling document and information requests or subpoenas and preparing witnesses for briefings and testimony. At every stage, our strategy is informed by the legal implications of any information provided and statements made to Congress.  At the same time—and often while working seamlessly with government and public relations professionals—we craft strategies that take into account the political climate, media dimensions, and other relevant considerations that arise in the course of these public proceedings.