News
Former DOJ Official Joins Freshfields’ Congressional Investigations Team
Freshfields announced today that former Department of Justice (DOJ) Associate Deputy Attorney General Austin Evers has joined the firm’s strategic risk and crisis management practice as partner and co-chair of the Congressional Investigations team, alongside Andy Dockham.
Austin draws on his experience at the intersection of litigation, politics, ethics and public accountability to guide clients through their most challenging moments under government investigation and scrutiny. Austin’s practice focuses primarily on advising clients facing congressional investigations, government investigations and crisis management challenges. He brings perspective from the highest levels of government where he counselled three departments in the executive branch as Senior Counsel for U.S. Department of State, Special Counsel for U.S. Department of Defense and most recently as Associate Deputy Attorney General within the U.S. Department of Justice in the Biden-Harris Administration.
Freshfields partner and co-head of the global investigations practice Adam Siegel stated: “Austin’s experience in defending clients in high-stakes investigations and his congressional acumen further bolsters our strategic risk and crisis management offering. His addition as co-chair of the Congressional Investigations practice demonstrates our commitment to having a bipartisan team that can help our clients navigate the complexities of Capitol Hill. When clients face significant crises, dealing with Congress can be as important a part of the response as addressing criminal, regulatory, litigation and reputational risks, and Austin enhances our ability to provide the highest level of service to clients regarding all aspects of these situations.”
Austin’s arrival follows last year’s addition of leading crisis and regulatory risk management, cybersecurity, investigations and enforcement lawyers – partners Beth George and Megan Kayo and counsel Sam Houshower in Silicon Valley, partners Janet Kim and Andrew Dockham and counsel Sean Quinn in Washington DC and counsel Jess Heller in New York.
U.S. Managing Partner Sarah Solum said: “Austin brings an excellent reputation, political astuteness and strong connections to our bench – enhancing our team’s already significant senior-level government experience. His expertise will be integrated into a client’s overall response to all stages of their investigations and crises, from negotiations with committees, to document production and preparing for testimony in depositions or hearings.”
Austin noted: “Freshfields captured my attention with its remarkable trajectory and its commitment to expanding the firm’s strategic and risk management practice. I’m thrilled to join an incredible team and to help Freshfields' clients tackle the most complex investigations and risks facing global businesses today.
The firm’s U.S. litigation practice comprehensively covers corporate risk management, risk governance and risk mitigation, including in areas such as data privacy and cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, climate change, ESG, geopolitical events, regulatory investigations and compliance, internal investigations and congressional investigations.
