Karen Christian
USA Guide 2024
Band 1 : Government Relations: Congressional Investigations
Band 1
About
Provided by Karen Christian
Practice Areas
Karen Christian has spent nearly 13 years conducting and overseeing congressional investigations. She counsels clients who may find themselves subjects of congressional probes or who are contending with potential associated regulatory, legislative or litigation challenges.
Karen has 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. In her role as general counsel to the Committee, Karen oversaw and ran some of the most high-profile, complex congressional investigations of the last decade.
Karen brings her background to bear to advise clients in congressional investigations and related oversight. She helps them develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses parallel civil, criminal, state attorneys general, inspector general, Government Accountability Office and other regulatory investigations. She also lends her experience to formulate defensive and/or affirmative corresponding legislative strategy and to address a broad range of regulatory issues.
Professional Memberships
District of Columbia Bar
Personal
J.D., The Ohio State University College of Law, with honors, 2001; B.A., Ohio University, magna cum laude, 1996
Chambers Review
USA
Karen Christian co-leads Akin's Congressional investigations practice. She has experience representing clients before various Congressional committees. She draws upon her experience as a former general counsel at the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"She has strong political instincts from her time on the hill but also counsels on the legal technicalities, impacts and risks. She is an incredibly valuable adviser."
"Karen understands the ebb and flow of investigations. She is adept at helping clients see the risks and dealing with them in advance, helping us manage political and legal risk."
"Karen is very strategic in the way she conducts her work. She is very thorough and organized, always finding appropriate resources to make sure she has the full picture."
"She has strong political instincts from her time on the hill but also counsels on the legal technicalities, impacts and risks. She is an incredibly valuable adviser."
"Karen understands the ebb and flow of investigations. She is adept at helping clients see the risks and dealing with them in advance, helping us manage political and legal risk."
"Karen is very strategic in the way she conducts her work. She is very thorough and organized, always finding appropriate resources to make sure she has the full picture."