WilmerHale is pleased to announce that Alyssa DaCunha, currently co-chair of the firm’s Congressional Investigations Practice, has also become co-chair–with Ambassador Robert Kimmitt–of the firm’s Crisis Management and Strategic Response Group, a position previously held by Jamie Gorelick, a former US Deputy Attorney General. The group helps clients navigate high-profile challenges with political, legal, media and reputational risks by bringing together the firm’s practices in the areas of Congressional Investigations, State Attorneys General, and Public Policy and Legislative Affairs, among others.
WilmerHale’s Congressional Investigations Practice has been recognized as one of the go-to groups in the nation’s capital for corporate and non-profit leaders seeking the best possible outcome when immersed in controversies and facing complex investigations. The bipartisan practice is acclaimed for its strong roster of attorneys with deep knowledge of all branches of government, including former government officials from both sides of the aisle. In the first half of 2023, WilmerHale helped clients prepare for eight hearings, seven of which featured CEOs or board members. And over 14 days in early 2023, WilmerHale handled three of the highest profile CEO-level hearings for two of the world’s most recognizable companies.
In her additional role, DaCunha will lead, along with co-chair Ambassador Robert Kimmitt, a practice that assists clients from the hours after a crisis occurs to the following weeks and months of investigations, litigation, enforcement and legislative actions. Working in close coordination with the firm’s litigation and regulatory groups, Strategic Response assists clients in developing global strategies for resolving multi-forum inquiries and crises. In recent years, this has included enforcement actions, securities disclosure issues, class action litigation, state attorneys general inquiries, shareholder derivative suits, and reputational issues.
“I am grateful to have earned the trust and support of my colleagues at WilmerHale, who are the very best in the field,” said DaCunha. “Under Jamie’s leadership, we’ve expanded our practice significantly and delivered remarkable results for our clients. I look forward to leading our deep bench of talented attorneys in continuing to deliver on our track record of success.”
“My confidence in Alyssa to continue the tremendous success of our crisis management group could not be greater,” Gorelick said. “She is a proven leader who has earned the trust of clients and colleagues alike for her impeccable judgment and steadiness under fire.”
DaCunha has spent the past decade helping global leaders and CEOs navigate Congress and complex investigations. During her tenure as co-chair of the Congressional Investigations Practice, WilmerHale was awarded The National Law Journal’s 2022 Crisis Management and Government Oversight Professional Excellence Award. She was recognized as a Crisis Leadership Trailblazer by The National Law Journal in 2021. She has also been named in the 2022-2023 editions of Chambers USA Guide for government relations and congressional investigations nationwide—with clients and observers stating she’s a “superb attorney” and an “absolute star.” She has been quoted by The New York Times, Politico, Reuters, USA Today, National Law Journal, Law360, and other publications on the topic of congressional investigations.
About WilmerHale’s Crisis Management and Strategic Response Group: Based in Washington DC, WilmerHale’s Crisis Management and Strategic Response Group helps companies and corporate leaders navigate fast-moving events and craft lasting solutions in the event of a corporate crisis. Drawing on a deep bench of talented attorneys with both government experience and industry insights, WilmerHale not only helps to ensure that the steps an organization takes in the first 24 or 48 hours of a crisis are the right ones, but they help clients craft longer-term legislative, regulatory or litigation strategies to address every dimension of an issue and prevent them from lingering or recurring.