Susanne Sachsman Grooms

Susanne leads Cooley’s congressional investigations practice. A former federal prosecutor and one of the nation’s leaders in congressional investigations, her practice focuses on helping clients navigate high-stakes, complex investigations that potentially involve multiple federal and state agencies, Congress, and regulatory authorities, as well as significant reputational concerns.

Susanne’s record of leading hundreds of congressional investigations from inside the government gives her a leading edge in assisting clients with congressional investigations, other government and regulatory investigations, internal investigations and crisis management.

She provides sage counsel and advice in support of and during matters before Congress. Her experience is broad, having assisted clients in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, the House Judiciary Committee and its Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the House Financial Services Committee, the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and the Office of Congressional Ethics, among others.

She is sought after for her insights, strategy, preparation and demonstrated success handling the most politically sensitive issues before government.

Susanne’s recent representations include advising:

• An international bank in connection with a request for documents and information from the Senate Committee on Finance*
• A global advisory firm in connection with a subpoena for documents from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, as well as preparing a senior executive to testify in a public hearing*
• A global aerospace and defense company in connection with a request for documents and information from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure*
• A senior executive from a Fortune 100 company, in preparation for public testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs*
• The former president of the National School Boards Association in a transcribed interview before the House Judiciary Committee*
• A union before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in an investigation of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) school reopening guidance*
• A multinational Fortune 500 company’s executives in preparation to testify in hearings before parliamentary committees in Australia, the UK and Canada*
• Witnesses in preparing for public testimony before the House Judiciary Committee’s Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and the House Administration Committee*
• A subcontractor in connection with a request for information from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations related to two federal government contracts*
• A media company in connection with responding to a document request from the Office of Congressional Ethics*
• Presidential nominees with preparation for confirmation hearings*
• Conducting a comprehensive external review of gender equity issues at the NCAA, focusing on NCAA championships and resulting in two publicly available reports*

* Representation handled prior to joining Cooley

A former federal prosecutor and Capitol Hill veteran, Susanne has served in numerous roles in government, garnering a stellar reputation and earning awards, accolades and recognition for her distinguished career.

Her prior work included serving as the deputy staff director and chief counsel for then-Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and her predecessor Chairman Elijah E. Cummings, overseeing a team of 70+ attorneys, investigators, and communications and support staff on hundreds of fast-paced, high-volume, and high-profile investigations involving the government, private industry, and individuals. Maloney described Susanne as “a superb attorney with exceptional political judgment.”

Susanne initially joined the Committee on Oversight and Reform – the principal investigative committee of the US House of Representatives – as a counsel under Chairman Henry A. Waxman. She quickly advanced into senior leadership of the Committee on Oversight and Reform for more than a decade, where she supervised and conducted hundreds of congressional hearings and investigations on a wide variety of matters and led the investigative staff of the committee from 2011 to 2021.

As a critical part of the congressional oversight of national crises, Susanne served on the investigatory and Senate trial teams for both of the impeachments of Donald J. Trump, and she helped establish and provided strategic counsel to the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. Susanne also served for more than two years as the staff director and general counsel for Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings on the Select Committee on Benghazi, and in that role managed and directed all aspects of a high-profile investigation that culminated in an 11-hour public hearing with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Susanne began her career as a trial attorney in the Tax Division of the Department of Justice, where she was a member of the Attorney General’s Honors Program and was awarded a 2005 Tax Division Outstanding Attorney Award and a 2006 Tax Division Special Act or Service Award.

From 2008 to 2010, Susanne served in a number of roles at the Internal Revenue Service, including as attorney adviser to the deputy commissioner for services and enforcement and as senior counsel to the chief of criminal investigation.

In 2010, Susanne was detailed to the White House, where she served as deputy associate counsel in the Office of Presidential Personnel, vetting presidential appointments and nominations and providing advice on tax compliance and other legal matters.

Susanne is a frequent speaker on matters related to congressional oversight and investigations, and she has been an invited speaker at events organized by the American Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics, and the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law and Public Policy. She also served as a guest lecturer at the Georgetown University Law Center.