Karen Elizabeth Christian

Partner

Areas of Focus

Karen Elizabeth Christian

Partner

kchristian@akingump.com

Areas of Focus

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Biography
  • Is co-head of the firm’s congressional investigations practice.
  • Spent nearly 13 years conducting and overseeing congressional investigations.
  • Served as former general counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and chief counsel to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
  • Counsels clients who may find themselves subjects of congressional probes or who are contending with potential associated regulatory, legislative or litigation challenges.

Karen brings her years of experience on Capitol Hill running investigations to bear when advising clients in Congressional investigations and related government oversight. Her knowledge of the oversight process and the inner workings of House and Senate Committees and leadership offices allows her to help her clients develop a comprehensive strategy for responding to Congressional requests, including preparing for potential parallel civil, criminal, state attorneys general, inspector general, Government Accountability Office and other regulatory investigations. Karen also lends her experience to formulate defensive and/or affirmative corresponding legislative strategy and to address a broad range of regulatory issues. Ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA, she is described by clients as “really taking the world by storm.”

In her role as general counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Karen oversaw and ran some of the most high-profile, complex congressional investigations of the last decade. Karen also managed all facets of the Committee’s legislative process and advised the Committee Chairman and Staff Director on all legal matters, including ethics, procedure and legislative proposals, as well as matters relating to Committee investigations. Prior to this role, Karen served as chief counsel to its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Karen has a deep understanding of members’ thinking and purpose when conducting congressional investigations, including their questioning strategy at public hearings. In the course of her work, she developed, and now maintains, close working relationships with members and committee staff on both sides of the aisle, including Committee Chairs and subcommittee chairs, top Committee staff, and staff for leadership of the House, including those for the Speaker, Majority Leader and Majority Whip.

Since joining Akin in 2019, Karen’s representations include the major House and Senate investigatory committees and subcommittees as well as assisting clients in responding to Government Accountability Office and Inspector General inquiries, including the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security.

Representative Work
  • Represented a major oil and gas company in connection with climate-related congressional investigations.
  • Represented a leading technology company in investigations into issues of alleged content moderation.
  • Represented a prominent advisory firm in investigations related to ESG.
  • Represented a leading FinTech company in connection with inquiries related to Covid-19 relief funds.
  • Represented a global pharmaceutical manufacturer in multiple congressional investigations concerning drug pricing issues.
  • Represented a leading U.S. retailer in an investigation of product safety.
  • Represented a global medical device manufacturer related to inquiries of COVID-19 contracts.
  • Represented a major U.S. financial institution related to an inquiry of law enforcement investigations following January 6.
  • Represented a communications technology company in investigations related to sales and investment in China.
  • Represented a private equity firm with regard to its investments in health care companies.
  • Represented a U.S. energy technology, services, and solutions provider in an investigation of export licenses.
  • Represented a university in a congressional inquiry into federal grants related to the moderation of content online.
  • Represented a university in a congressional investigation examining the compensation paid to college athletic coaches, budgets for college sports programs and the tax-exempt status of U.S. colleges.

“Karen is an expert at navigating clients through high-profile, complex, and sensitive Congressional investigations.”

Chambers USA, 2023

Education
  • J.D., The Ohio State University College of Law, with honors, 2001

  • B.A., Ohio University, magna cum laude, 1996

Clerkships
  • U.S.D.C., District of Columbia

Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia

Recognitions
  • Chambers USA, Government Relations: Congressional Investigations, 2021 to 2023 (Band 1 2023).
  • The Legal 500 US, Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to individuals, 2019 to 2023.
Speeches and Publications
  • “The New Congress & Higher Education: An Anticipated Focus on China,” Akin Gump Webinar, October 27, 2022.
  • “U.S. Enforcement Priorities Under the Biden Administration and a New Congress,” Akin Gump Webinar, March 2021.
  • “Congressional Investigations and Washington’s New Look: What to Expect Given Democratic Control of the House, Senate and White House,” Akin Gump Webinar, January 2021.
  • “Post-Election Outlook: Congressional Investigations Under the Incoming Biden Administration,” Akin Gump Webinar, November 2020.
  • “How to Prepare for Forthcoming Congressional Investigations in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Akin Gump Webinar, April 2020.
  • “FDA-Related Congressional Committees: Jurisdiction, Focus, and Roles,” FDLI Webinar, March 2020.
  • “In the Crosshairs of FDA Enforcement and Congressional Investigations: Lessons for Managing Responses,” FDLI Enforcement, Litigation, and Compliance Conference, Washington, D.C., December 2019.
  • “Preparing for the Unknown: Privacy and Cybersecurity Regulation,” The Civil Justice Reform Group General Counsel Meeting, Washington, D.C., April 2019.
  • “Beyond The Politics of Congressional Oversight & Investigations,” American University Legislation & Policy Brief Symposium, Washington, D.C., April 2019.
  • “Congressional Investigations: How to Manage Enforcement and Business Risks,” PLI Center program “White Collar Crime 2017: Prosecutors and Regulators Speak,” New York, October 4, 2017.

Insights and Achievements

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