Alyssa DaCunha
Partner
- Co-Chair, Congressional Investigations Practice
- Co-Chair, Crisis Management and Strategic Response Group
Alyssa DaCunha’s practice focuses on government and internal investigations and crisis management assistance. She has represented major corporations and individuals in congressional, white collar and civil matters, and has extensive experience representing companies facing parallel proceedings, including cross-border investigations, civil and criminal litigation, and state attorney general inquiries. She also advises on anti-corruption and regulatory compliance matters, and provides strategic counsel to companies facing complex regulatory, legal and policy issues in the glare of the media spotlight. Ms. DaCunha’s clients span a wide variety of industries, including pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, technology and media companies, banks, hedge funds, private equity firms, energy companies and professional sports leagues.
Over the past decade, Ms. DaCunha has prepared dozens of CEOs and corporate executives for testimony before Congress and international venues, including hearings before all of the major House and Senate investigative committees. She has advised many more clients on navigating the congressional inquiry process, including document requests, informational briefings, interviews and investigative reports. Ms. DaCunha also regularly provides strategic counsel to companies and individuals on governmental controversies, ethics and Senate confirmation issues, and crisis management matters.
Ms. DaCunha also maintains an active pro bono practice. She has represented a foster family seeking permanent guardianship of a foster child and has represented a Washington DC public charter school advocacy group in a funding equity suit.
Ms. DaCunha joined the firm after serving as a law clerk to the Honorable J.L. Edmondson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Professional Activities
Ms. DaCunha is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Federalist Society's Emerging Leaders Council.
Experience
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- Counseling a global social media company in connection with parallel House and Senate inquiries and preparing company executives for congressional testimony.
- Advising a major defense contractor in connection with civil and criminal fraud allegations and negotiating a global resolution of the matter.
- Representing a pharmaceutical company facing multiple parallel requests from House and Senate committees related to pricing issues.
- Representing a global financial institution in connection with a congressional investigation relating to offshore banking by US taxpayers and cross-border business practices.
- Obtaining total dismissal with prejudice of all claims against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was sued (in his personal capacity) by the SEC for securities fraud.
- Counseling a global financial institution on anti-corruption policies and conducting training in new policies and procedures.
- Advising a major activist hedge fund in connection with a Senate Aging Committee inquiry regarding drug price increases.
- Advising an asset management firm in conjunction with a congressional investigation into high-frequency trading practices.
- Representing several entities and individuals in FCPA and corruption-related investigations.
- Representing a renewable energy company facing a congressional inquiry relating to the Department of Energy loan-guarantee program.
- Representing a former senior aide to Senator John Edwards in a federal criminal trial.
- Counsel for secret service agent in connection with high-profile inquiry regarding Presidential visit to South America.
Recognition
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Recognized as a Crisis Leadership Trailblazer
The National Law Journal
2021
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Shortlisted for Government Investigations Attorney of the Year
LMG Life Sciences
2023
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Ranked for Government Relations and Congressional Investigations
Chambers USA Guide
2022-2024
- Winner of the 2022 Crisis Management and Government Oversight Professional Excellence Award by The National Law Journal and named a finalist in 2023.
- Named in the 2022-2024 editions of Chambers USA Guide nationwide for government relations and congressional investigations. Clients comment “She is responsive, knowledgeable, professional and wired into the Washington DC oversight community. She's the best.” And “She is highly responsive and accessible with a strong, intimate knowledge of Congress, which is a phenomenal asset to us."
- Named a “Woman Worth Watching in Leadership” by Diversity Journal (2021).
- Recognized as a Crisis Leadership Trailblazer by The National Law Journal (2021).
- Named a "Life Sciences Star" in the 2021-2023 editions of LMG Life Sciences and named to its 2023 awards shortlist for Government Investigations Attorney of the Year.
Insights & News
Credentials
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Education
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JD, George Mason University School of Law, 2010
summa cum laude Editor-in-Chief, George Mason Law Review -
BA, International Affairs, The George Washington University, 2006
summa cum laude
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Admissions
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District of Columbia
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Virginia
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Clerkships
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The Hon. J.L. Edmondson, US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2010 - 2011
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Languages
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Portuguese
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Credentials
-
Education
-
JD, George Mason University School of Law, 2010
summa cum laude Editor-in-Chief, George Mason Law Review -
BA, International Affairs, The George Washington University, 2006
summa cum laude
-
-
Admissions
-
District of Columbia
-
Virginia
-
-
Clerkships
-
The Hon. J.L. Edmondson, US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2010 - 2011
-
-
Languages
-
Portuguese
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