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Dan Donovan specializes in congressional, state attorneys general and parallel government investigations. A former Chief Investigative Counsel in the Senate, Dan co-chairs our Government Advocacy and Congressional Investigations practices perennially recognized by Chambers USA: “King & Spalding is best known for its impressive congressional investigations practice, with several dedicated members working exclusively in this area." Dan is ranked Band 1 Nationwide for Congressional Investigations by Chambers USA.  He has two decades of crisis management experience with government investigations, involving significant legal, public relations and political risks.

Dan represents leading companies, individuals, trade associations, and nonprofit entities and provides effective crisis management counsel. He works at the forefront of controversial and politicized national and state policy issues that frequently lead to investigations and litigation, including congressional, multi-state and federal agency enforcement actions. Particularly experienced in anticipating and responding to congressional committee requests and subpoenas, Dan prepares clients for high-profile hearings and guides them through the unique challenges presented by congressional and parallel government investigations.

Before joining the firm, Dan served as Senior Investigative Counsel to Senator Charles Grassley, then Chairman of the Committee on Finance. While serving in the U.S. Senate, Dan managed congressional investigations and oversight hearings. In this role, Dan directed investigations focused on statutory and regulatory compliance, including drug and device safety, drug pricing, and waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs. He also handled policy and legislative matters, including the False Claims Act, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Medicare and Medicaid programs, and related statutes. Dan also served as Chief Investigative Counsel to the Senate Committee on Small Business, where he managed consumer fraud and small business protection investigations and hearings. He began his congressional career as a Staff Assistant on the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, chaired by Senator Fred Thompson, working on the special investigation into the 1996 federal election campaigns.

Dan also provides strategic policy and legislative counsel, and is a frequent speaker on congressional oversight and investigations.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., American University

B.A., University of Rochester

District of Columbia

Maryland

“[W]e have complete confidence in his ability to manage complex issues and communicate with our senior leaders.”


Chambers USA, 2023

“Daniel is an expert in Congressional investigations and is always able to keep a calm head.”


Chambers USA, 2023

Top Ranked Lawyer, Band 1 in Government Relations: Congressional Investigations - USA - Nationwide


Chambers USA, 2021-2023

“[Daniel] provides superb service and is an absolutely indispensable partner. He is incredibly responsive.”


Chambers USA, 2022

“Daniel provides extremely good insight into the Congressional process and can convey it to high-level executives.”


Chambers USA, 2022

King & Spalding has “a strong track in congressional investigations … Daniel Donovan is a key contact”


Legal 500, 2022

Leading Government Relations Lawyer


Legal 500 2020-2022

“King & Spalding is best known for its impressive congressional investigations practice”


Chambers USA

Crisis Management and Government Oversight Practice Award


National Law Journal 2021

“[A]ctive in high-profile congressional investigations, and includes ... experts such as Daniel Donovan”


Legal 500 2020

Nationwide Government Relations Practice Ranking


Chambers USA 2008-2023

“Law Firm of the Year" for Government Relations”


US News & World Report

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Recognition

“[W]e have complete confidence in his ability to manage complex issues and communicate with our senior leaders.”


Chambers USA, 2023

“Daniel is an expert in Congressional investigations and is always able to keep a calm head.”


Chambers USA, 2023

Top Ranked Lawyer, Band 1 in Government Relations: Congressional Investigations - USA - Nationwide


Chambers USA, 2021-2023

“[Daniel] provides superb service and is an absolutely indispensable partner. He is incredibly responsive.”


Chambers USA, 2022

“Daniel provides extremely good insight into the Congressional process and can convey it to high-level executives.”


Chambers USA, 2022

King & Spalding has “a strong track in congressional investigations … Daniel Donovan is a key contact”


Legal 500, 2022

Leading Government Relations Lawyer


Legal 500 2020-2022

“King & Spalding is best known for its impressive congressional investigations practice”


Chambers USA

Crisis Management and Government Oversight Practice Award


National Law Journal 2021

“[A]ctive in high-profile congressional investigations, and includes ... experts such as Daniel Donovan”


Legal 500 2020

Nationwide Government Relations Practice Ranking


Chambers USA 2008-2023

“Law Firm of the Year" for Government Relations”


US News & World Report

Matters

Representing numerous clients under investigation by Republican-controlled House Committees, including Education and the Workforce, Energy & Commerce, Financial Services, Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Select Committee on CCP, and Ways & Means, among others.

Representing numerous clients under investigation by Democratic-controlled Senate Committees, including Banking, Commerce, Finance, HELP, Homeland Security, Judiciary, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and Special Committee on Aging, among others.

Providing advice and counsel with respect to congressional oversight activity to leading companies in private sector industries, including accounting, auto, banking, consulting, defense, energy, fashion, food, healthcare provider, higher education, insurance, medical device, pharmaceutical, private equity, and tech, among others.

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Matters

Representing numerous clients under investigation by Republican-controlled House Committees, including Education and the Workforce, Energy & Commerce, Financial Services, Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Select Committee on CCP, and Ways & Means, among others.

Representing numerous clients under investigation by Democratic-controlled Senate Committees, including Banking, Commerce, Finance, HELP, Homeland Security, Judiciary, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and Special Committee on Aging, among others.

Providing advice and counsel with respect to congressional oversight activity to leading companies in private sector industries, including accounting, auto, banking, consulting, defense, energy, fashion, food, healthcare provider, higher education, insurance, medical device, pharmaceutical, private equity, and tech, among others.

Representing a variety of clients in connection with investigations relating to allegations of government fraud, food and product safety and recalls, cybersecurity breaches, product pricing, clinical research, off-label promotion, direct-to-consumer advertising, payments to physicians, and financial conflicts of interest.

Representing multiple pharmaceutical companies in connection with congressional and state attorneys general drug pricing investigations.

Representing a variety of clients on healthcare policy and legislative issues.

Represented a major university and pharmaceutical company in connection with the Select Panel on Infant Lives (authorized under the House Energy and Commerce Committee) investigation relating to fetal tissue research.

Represented a global financial institution in connection with an investigation by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, regarding international tax matters.

Represented a Big Four accounting firm in a Senate Finance Committee investigation of a University’s handling of federal funds.

Represented multiple pharmaceutical companies in House and Senate investigations related to Affordable Care Act enactment and implementation.

Represented medical device companies in connection with House and Senate committee investigations into 510(k) regulatory issues, direct-to-consumer advertising, and payments to physicians.

Represented a leading clean energy technology company in connection with a Senate investigation into Department of Energy grant program.

Represented a major oil company in connection with congressional investigations.

Represented a health insurer in House and Senate investigations related to Affordable Care Act implementation.

Represented a coalition of food product companies in connection with congressional inquiries relating to food safety and regulatory issues.

Represented a medical society in connection with Senate committee investigations in payments to physicians.

Represented individuals in connection with House and Senate committee inquiries and ethics investigations.

Matters

Representing numerous clients under investigation by Republican-controlled House Committees, including Education and the Workforce, Energy & Commerce, Financial Services, Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Select Committee on CCP, and Ways & Means, among others.

Representing numerous clients under investigation by Democratic-controlled Senate Committees, including Banking, Commerce, Finance, HELP, Homeland Security, Judiciary, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and Special Committee on Aging, among others.

Providing advice and counsel with respect to congressional oversight activity to leading companies in private sector industries, including accounting, auto, banking, consulting, defense, energy, fashion, food, healthcare provider, higher education, insurance, medical device, pharmaceutical, private equity, and tech, among others.

See more

Close

Matters

Representing numerous clients under investigation by Republican-controlled House Committees, including Education and the Workforce, Energy & Commerce, Financial Services, Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Select Committee on CCP, and Ways & Means, among others.

Representing numerous clients under investigation by Democratic-controlled Senate Committees, including Banking, Commerce, Finance, HELP, Homeland Security, Judiciary, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and Special Committee on Aging, among others.

Providing advice and counsel with respect to congressional oversight activity to leading companies in private sector industries, including accounting, auto, banking, consulting, defense, energy, fashion, food, healthcare provider, higher education, insurance, medical device, pharmaceutical, private equity, and tech, among others.

Representing a variety of clients in connection with investigations relating to allegations of government fraud, food and product safety and recalls, cybersecurity breaches, product pricing, clinical research, off-label promotion, direct-to-consumer advertising, payments to physicians, and financial conflicts of interest.

Representing multiple pharmaceutical companies in connection with congressional and state attorneys general drug pricing investigations.

Representing a variety of clients on healthcare policy and legislative issues.

Represented a major university and pharmaceutical company in connection with the Select Panel on Infant Lives (authorized under the House Energy and Commerce Committee) investigation relating to fetal tissue research.

Represented a global financial institution in connection with an investigation by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, regarding international tax matters.

Represented a Big Four accounting firm in a Senate Finance Committee investigation of a University’s handling of federal funds.

Represented multiple pharmaceutical companies in House and Senate investigations related to Affordable Care Act enactment and implementation.

Represented medical device companies in connection with House and Senate committee investigations into 510(k) regulatory issues, direct-to-consumer advertising, and payments to physicians.

Represented a leading clean energy technology company in connection with a Senate investigation into Department of Energy grant program.

Represented a major oil company in connection with congressional investigations.

Represented a health insurer in House and Senate investigations related to Affordable Care Act implementation.

Represented a coalition of food product companies in connection with congressional inquiries relating to food safety and regulatory issues.

Represented a medical society in connection with Senate committee investigations in payments to physicians.

Represented individuals in connection with House and Senate committee inquiries and ethics investigations.

Credentials

J.D., American University

B.A., University of Rochester

District of Columbia

Maryland

“[W]e have complete confidence in his ability to manage complex issues and communicate with our senior leaders.”


Chambers USA, 2023

“Daniel is an expert in Congressional investigations and is always able to keep a calm head.”


Chambers USA, 2023

Top Ranked Lawyer, Band 1 in Government Relations: Congressional Investigations - USA - Nationwide


Chambers USA, 2021-2023

“[Daniel] provides superb service and is an absolutely indispensable partner. He is incredibly responsive.”


Chambers USA, 2022

“Daniel provides extremely good insight into the Congressional process and can convey it to high-level executives.”


Chambers USA, 2022

King & Spalding has “a strong track in congressional investigations … Daniel Donovan is a key contact”


Legal 500, 2022

Leading Government Relations Lawyer


Legal 500 2020-2022

“King & Spalding is best known for its impressive congressional investigations practice”


Chambers USA

Crisis Management and Government Oversight Practice Award


National Law Journal 2021

“[A]ctive in high-profile congressional investigations, and includes ... experts such as Daniel Donovan”


Legal 500 2020

Nationwide Government Relations Practice Ranking


Chambers USA 2008-2023

“Law Firm of the Year" for Government Relations”


US News & World Report

Close

Recognition

“[W]e have complete confidence in his ability to manage complex issues and communicate with our senior leaders.”


Chambers USA, 2023

“Daniel is an expert in Congressional investigations and is always able to keep a calm head.”


Chambers USA, 2023

Top Ranked Lawyer, Band 1 in Government Relations: Congressional Investigations - USA - Nationwide


Chambers USA, 2021-2023

“[Daniel] provides superb service and is an absolutely indispensable partner. He is incredibly responsive.”


Chambers USA, 2022

“Daniel provides extremely good insight into the Congressional process and can convey it to high-level executives.”


Chambers USA, 2022

King & Spalding has “a strong track in congressional investigations … Daniel Donovan is a key contact”


Legal 500, 2022

Leading Government Relations Lawyer


Legal 500 2020-2022

“King & Spalding is best known for its impressive congressional investigations practice”


Chambers USA

Crisis Management and Government Oversight Practice Award


National Law Journal 2021

“[A]ctive in high-profile congressional investigations, and includes ... experts such as Daniel Donovan”


Legal 500 2020

Nationwide Government Relations Practice Ranking


Chambers USA 2008-2023

“Law Firm of the Year" for Government Relations”


US News & World Report