WASHINGTON, DC – September 23, 2026 – Cooley today announced that Jessica Donlon joined the firm as a partner in its congressional investigations practice and global litigation department in Washington, DC.

Donlon’s arrival further strengthens Cooley’s Chambers-ranked bipartisan congressional investigations practice, deepening its firsthand congressional experience and ability to counsel clients through high-stakes oversight matters. She brings more than 15 years at the highest levels of congressional oversight and investigations, including senior leadership roles with the House committees on Energy and Commerce and Oversight and Government Reform, as well as the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

“Since Susanne arrived in 2024, she has catapulted Cooley’s congressional investigations practice to the top of the market,” said Ian Shapiro, partner and chair of the firm’s global litigation department. “Now, as she reunites across the aisle with Donlon, few, if any, firms will have as much experience at the center of congressional oversight over the last 15 years. We are excited to deploy Donlon, Grooms and the rest of their team in the service of Cooley’s innovative clients.”

Donlon joins the firm from the US House of Representatives, where she served as general counsel to the House Energy and Commerce Committee under Chairman Brett Guthrie, and previously served as general counsel and deputy staff director to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee under Chairman James Comer. She also served as deputy general counsel for oversight at the White House OMB, where she managed the administration’s response to congressional requests, briefings and hearings.

“Navigating congressional scrutiny requires sound judgment, credibility and a deep understanding of the people and institutions that drive decisions in Washington,” said Susanne Sachsman Grooms, partner and chair of Cooley’s congressional investigations practice. “Having worked alongside Jessica for many years, I know that her impeccable reputation and long-standing relationships across the Hill and throughout DC will be invaluable as we help clients anticipate and navigate the new oversight dynamics that could emerge following the midterm elections. We are very excited to have our clients benefit from Jessica’s extensive experience on the Hill and at OMB and the breadth of perspective that she brings to our team.”

“Cooley is the natural choice for my move into private practice,” said Donlon. “The firm advises many of the most innovative companies and industries increasingly at the center of congressional attention, and I’m excited to bring my experience to those clients while working alongside Grooms and other exceptional colleagues in the congressional investigations practice and across the global litigation department.”

Cooley’s congressional investigations practice counsels companies and individuals through their most sensitive and high-profile matters involving significant business and reputational risk. Its bipartisan team brings deep experience with the principal investigative committees in both chambers of Congress and under leadership from both parties. The team has successfully handled numerous investigations across major industries for public companies, privately held businesses, individuals and other entities facing congressional oversight. Donlon will join a team that includes numerous practitioners with deep experience on the Hill, including Heather Sawyer, Janet Kim, Sean Quinn and Vince Sampson.

Cooley’s global litigation department includes more than 500 lawyers in the US and Europe representing technology, life sciences and other innovative companies. Since 2025, Cooley has added numerous elite, next-generation lawyers to its litigation department throughout the US, including Elizabeth Prelogar, Raymond Tolentino, Ephraim McDowell, Brian Nelson, Janet Kim and Meredith Halama in DC; Simona Agnolucci, Ben Hur, Jonathan Patchen, Eduardo Santacana, Joshua Anderson and Tiffany Lin in San Francisco; Michael Rome and Brian Klein in Los Angeles; Lyndsey Kruzer, Andrea Reid, Andrew Wilkins and John Rearick in Boston; and James Kim, Tejal Shah, Sean Quinn and Michael La Marca in New York.

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