K&L Gates Government Enforcement Practice:
Congressional Investigations
Congressional investigations are political events, and the stakes are high. Within the past
year, the public has witnessed many investigations and high-profile hearings on topics as
Understanding Congressional Investigations:
diverse as private contractors in Iraq, the war, steroids in baseball, the current economic
Congressional Investigations Are the Big
crisis, mortgage reform, foreclosure relief, and market and regulatory reform. Those who
Time. Recognize the risks and opportunities—
receive a Congressional “invitation” to meet with, or who may be called to testify before, a
good and bad—they represent for your
Congressional committee need to both prepare and conduct themselves with the recognition
that a Congressional investigation is a proceeding in which much is at stake—for the
business whose officers must testify, for those individuals personally, and often for their
industry as a whole. Successfully maneuvering through a Congressional investigation
requires experienced counsel. K&L Gates can provide that counsel.
business and yourself. Congressional hearings
make the news.
Congress Makes Its Own Rules. Investigations
can be conducted to be educational, to build a
K&L Gates lawyers and professionals
collectively have years of Congressional
experience on both sides of the aisle and
witness table. In addition to a former Senator,
Representative, and Attorney General, the
practice features former committee counsel
who have organized and staffed numerous
hearings, investigations, and legislative
markups for both House and Senate
committees. Unique to the practice is the
interface with our bipartisan policy team,
recently ranked as the fifth largest law and
lobbying practice in the United States (Legal
Times, April 2010).
K&L Gates regularly represents individuals,
corporations, and associations—both foreign
and domestic—before House and Senate
committees and the leaderships of both
Houses. These investigations are complex, as
they pose difficult issues of individual rights
and public policy.
Representative Experience
• Representing company in connection with
Congressional investigation of
FDA action.
• Representing trustee in investigation
by Senate Permanent Investigations
Subcommittee of offshore
investment devices.
• Representing corporate officer in
connection with investigation into alleged
irregularities relating to a contract issued
by House of Representatives.
• Representing a lawyer in investigations
by Senate Permanent Investigations
Subcommittee of abusive offshore
tax shelters.
• Representing individual in parallel
Department of Justice and Congressional
investigation of lobbying activities.
record for legislation, to generate publicity, or
some combination of all those purposes.
Congressional Investigations Are Political
Events. Like trials, the stakes (e.g., personal or
corporate reputation) can be high. Unlike trials,
there is not always a winner and a loser.
Be Ready. Practice. Practice. Practice. Prepare
thoroughly. Prepare often. Prepare for the worst.
For more information on our Congressional Investigations experience, please
contact one of the lawyers listed below:
Boston
Michael D. Ricciuti
+1.617.951.9094
michael.ricciuti@klgates.com
Bruce J. Heiman
+1.202.661.3935
bruce.heiman@klgates.com
Stephen G. Topetzes
+1.202.778.9328
stephen.topetzes@klgates.com
Michael J. Missal
+1.202.778.9302
michael.missal@klgates.com
Washington, D.C.
Carol Elder Bruce
+1.202.778.9426
carol.bruce@klgates.com
Michael J. O’Neil
+1.202.661.6226
mike.oneil@klgates.com
Barry M. Hartman
+1.202.778.9338
barry.hartman@klgates.com
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K&L Gates includes lawyers practicing out of 37 offices located in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle
East, and represents numerous GLOBAL 500, FORTUNE 100, and FTSE 100 corporations, in addition to growth
and middle market companies, entrepreneurs, capital market participants and public sector entities. For more
information, visit www.klgates.com.
This publication is for informational purposes and does not contain or convey legal advice. The information herein should not be used or relied upon in regard to
any particular facts or circumstances without first consulting a lawyer.
©2011 K&L Gates LLP. All Rights Reserved.
90410_2709
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