LAWYER PROFILE
Alyssa DaCunha

Alyssa DaCunha

USA 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by WilmerHale

Practice Areas

Alyssa DaCunha’s practice focuses on government and internal investigations and crisis management assistance. She has represented major corporations and individuals in congressional, white collar and civil matters, and has extensive experience representing companies facing parallel proceedings, including cross-border investigations, civil and criminal litigation, and state attorney general inquiries. She also advises on anti-corruption and regulatory compliance matters, and provides strategic counsel to companies facing complex regulatory, legal and policy issues in the glare of the media spotlight. Ms. DaCunha’s clients span a wide variety of industries, including pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, technology and media companies, banks, hedge funds, private equity firms, energy companies and professional sports leagues.

Over the past decade, Ms. DaCunha has prepared dozens of CEOs and corporate executives for testimony before Congress and international venues, including hearings before all of the major House and Senate investigative committees. She has advised many more clients on navigating the congressional inquiry process, including document requests, informational briefings, interviews and investigative reports. Ms. DaCunha also regularly provides strategic counsel to companies and individuals on governmental controversies, ethics and Senate confirmation issues, and crisis management matters.

Ms. DaCunha also maintains an active pro bono practice. She has represented a foster family seeking permanent guardianship of a foster child and has represented a Washington DC public charter school advocacy group in a funding equity suit.

Professional Memberships

Ms. DaCunha is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Antonin Scalia Law School Foundation board. She previously served as a member of the Federalist Society's Emerging Leaders Council and has served as volunteer legal counsel to two Republican presidential campaigns.

Publications

New Congress Expected to Zoom to Private Sector Investigations - Bloomberg Law

Cos. Should Inventory Issues to Prep for New Congress - Law360

Law Firms Stay Busy Amid 'Unrelenting' Pace of Congressional Oversight Work - The American Lawyer

Experience

- Leading a cross-border internal investigation for a professional services firm following public scrutiny of work performed by former partners of the firm.

- Counseling a global social media company in connection with parallel House and Senate inquiries and preparing company executives for congressional testimony.

- Advising a major defense contractor in connection with civil and criminal fraud allegations and negotiating a global resolution of the matter.

- Representing a pharmaceutical company facing multiple parallel requests from House and Senate committees related to pricing issues.

- Representing a global financial institution in connection with a congressional investigation relating to offshore banking by US taxpayers and cross-border business practices.

- Obtaining total dismissal with prejudice of all claims against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was sued (in his personal capacity) by the SEC for securities fraud.

- Counseling a global financial institution on anti-corruption policies and conducting training in new policies and procedures.

- Advising a major activist hedge fund in connection with a Senate Aging Committee inquiry regarding drug price increases.

- Advising an asset management firm in conjunction with a congressional investigation into high-frequency trading practices.

- Representing several entities and individuals in FCPA and corruption-related investigations.

- Representing a renewable energy company facing a congressional inquiry relating to the Department of Energy loan-guarantee program.

- Counsel for secret service agent in connection with high-profile inquiry regarding Presidential visit to South America.

Education

George Mason University School of Law

JD

2010

The George Washington University

BA

2006

Awards

2026 Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management

Lawdragon

2026

Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll

2026

2022 Crisis Management and Government Oversight Professional Excellence Award

The National Law Journal

2022

Woman Worth Watching in Leadership

Diversity Jounral

2021

Crisis Leadership Trailblazer

The National Law Journal

2021

Lie Sciences Star

LMG Life Sciences

2021

Life Sciences Star

LMG Life Sciences

2022

Life Sciences Star

LMG Life Sciences

2023

Key sectors

Government and Public SectorFinancial Services

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Government Relations: Congressional Investigations - USA - Nationwide

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Alyssa DaCunha co-chairs the firm's Congressional investigations practice. She is well placed to assist with hearings and advise on strategy.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Alyssa understands what we're trying to accomplish and counsels us through every step in the congressional inquiry process, big and small.

    Government Relations: Congressional InvestigationsChambers Guide to the USA
  • I would not trust our institution to anyone else's hands.

    Government Relations: Congressional InvestigationsChambers Guide to the USA
  • Alyssa and her team provide exceptional, full-spectrum client service across a diverse issue set. She is a remarkable thought partner and force multiplier.

    Government Relations: Congressional InvestigationsChambers Guide to the USA
  • Her grasp of the process and how the client should navigate it is second to none.

    Government Relations: Congressional InvestigationsChambers Guide to the USA
  • Alyssa’s instincts are spot on.

    Government Relations: Congressional InvestigationsChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at WilmerHale (135)

California

California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou

Colorado

District of Columbia

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