Allison Murphy

Partner Litigation

Washington, D.C. +1 202 389 3184

Allison Murphy

Overview

Allison Murphy is a partner in the Government, Regulatory & Internal Investigations Practice Group in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Having served in the White House Counsel’s Office and on House and Senate committees, Allison brings her extensive government experience to bear when guiding clients through high-stakes congressional and other government investigations. With a practice driven by novel and complex matters, she is well-versed in handling parallel inquiries by congressional committees, or matters arising out of congressional oversight by state attorneys general, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as in litigation. She has prepared chief executive officers and high-profile individuals for public testimony. She also regularly advises public and private companies on crisis, strategic and reputational matters. Her broad practice reaches across industries, including healthcare and pharma, financial, tech, energy and consumer products. In being recognized for her work in the 2025 edition of Chambers, her clients note that she “has intimate knowledge of the space and is incredibly smart,” and “provides good guidance and counsel to clients in a proactive and valuable way.”

Before joining Kirkland, Allison served as Associate Counsel in the White House, providing legal advice on sensitive matters to senior Executive Branch officials at the Treasury Department and others, advising on congressional investigations as well as litigation implicating executive privilege. Also, she spent a decade on Capitol Hill, including as Chief Oversight Counsel of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis under the Oversight Committee, as well as Counsel for the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Allison led inquiries related to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2008 financial crisis and other consequential events. She also previously served as an enforcement attorney with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission handling market manipulation cases, among others.

Allison also counsels tax-exempt entities and as maintains an active pro bono practice.

Since joining the Firm in 2021, Allison has represented clients in dozens of investigations and public hearings before key congressional committees, including:

U.S. House of Representatives

  • Energy and Commerce
  • Financial Services
  • Homeland Security
  • Judiciary
  • Oversight and Government Reform
  • Select Committee on China
  • Ways and Means

U.S. Senate

  • Agriculture
  • Banking
  • Budget
  • Commerce
  • Finance
  • Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
  • Joint Economic Committee
  • Judiciary
  • Homeland Security and Government Affairs
  • Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

Healthcare

  • Counsel for a Fortune 10 national health insurer about health care affordability in CEO hearings.
  • Counsel for a major healthcare company in response to congressional inquiries related to the nationwide infant formula shortage.
  • Counsel for a global pharmaceutical company regarding discontinuation of a product.
  • Counsel for a university in connection with an inquiry by the House Oversight Committee regarding an investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Counsel for a university in connection with an inquiry by the Senate Finance Committee request for data on organ procurement and transplantation system.
  • Counsel for a pharmaceutical company in connection with a Senate Finance Committee inquiry regarding international tax practices.
  • Counsel for a health insurer in connection with an investigation into Medicare Advantage plans.
  • Counsel for pharmaceutical companies in connection with congressional oversight regarding drug pricing practices.
  • Counsel for investment firm in connection with congressional inquiry into ownership of healthcare-related entities.
  • Counsel for a telecommunications company related to congressional oversight of public health and safety issues.
  • Counsel for a pharmaceutical discount provider related to congressional oversight of painkillers.
  • Counsel for a pharmaceutical manufacturer related to congressional oversight of COVID-19 vaccine issues.
  • Counsel for a physicians’ practice group regarding health care acquisitions.

Financial

  • Counsel for a global strategic investment firm in connection with an investigation and CEO testimony, as well as parallel litigation, related to advising on a professional sports merger.
  • Counsel for an investment firm in response to congressional inquiries related to housing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Counsel for a large agricultural company relating to an inquiry by the Senate Agriculture Committee on a certain sale of its property.
  • Counsel for an accounting firm regarding a congressional oversight inquiry regarding employees who also served in the federal government.
  • Counsel for investment firm in connection with congressional oversight of investments related to China.
  • Counsel for a consumer financial firm in congressional inquiry related to collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
  • Counsel for a global quantitative trading firm in connection with congressional oversight.
  • Counsel for a major accounting firm in connection with congressional oversight regarding activity in China.
  • Counsel for an investment firm in connection with a congressional inquiry about privacy of consumer information.

Energy

  • Counsel to a global energy company in connection with CEO testimony and high-profile investigations led by both House and Senate committees regarding climate issues.
  • Counsel for a refined oil pipeline system company in connection with congressional inquiries into a cybersecurity attack on the company.

Technology

  • Counsel for a large social media company in connection with congressional inquiries into competition in the digital marketplace and antitrust concerns.
  • Counsel for a top global technology company related to congressional oversight of supply chain issues.
  • Counsel for a leading semiconductor company in an investigation and hearing testimony about export controls compliance.
  • Counsel for an international technology firm regarding non-profit donations.

Congressional Matters

  • Counsel for a major professional sports league before a House investigation and hearing on workplace misconduct.
  • Counsel for an American car rental company in connection with a congressional inquiry into consumer practices.
  • Counsel for an international airline in an investigation and hearing testimony regarding ancillary fees.
  • Counsel for an aerospace company in connection with congressional oversight of supply chain issues.
  • Counsel for company in transportation industry in connection with congressional oversight of train car derailment.
  • Counsel in a housing inquiry before the House Financial Services Committee.
  • Counsel for a cleanup and restoration company in connection with a Senate committee inquiry.
  • Counsel for a consumer goods company in connection with a congressional inquiry about its labor practices.
  • Counsel for a university in connection with an inquiry by the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties into its policies regarding academic freedom and conflicts- of-interest with outside activity.

Government Investigations

  • Counsel for a global agriculture firm in the successful closure of an SEC inquiry related to accounting practices.
  • Counsel for a major vehicle rental company in the complete closure of an FTC investigation.
  • Counsel for international financial institution in connection with parallel DOJ and SEC inquiries.
  • Counsel for pharmaceutical company in litigation with a state AG regarding discontinuation of a product.
  • Counsel for a pharmaceutical company in connection with an inquiry into pharmaceutical pricing.

More

Thought Leadership

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, “Representing Clients in Congressional Investigations 2024,” D.C. Bar Continuing Legal Education Program, September 26, 2024

Presenter, “Representing Clients in Congressional Investigations 2022,” D.C. Bar Continuing Legal Education Program, November 1, 2022

Presenter, “Representing Clients in Congressional Investigations 2021,” D.C. Bar Continuing Legal Education Program, September 9, 2021

Panelist, “Congressional Oversight and Investigations: New Developments and Outlook for the 117th Congress,” The Federalist Society, July 28, 2021

Publications

Guest Editor, “When Congress Comes Calling,” A comprehensive handbook for navigating congressional investigations, oversight practices and legal considerations, 2025

Co-Author, “The FERC Enforcement Process,” Energy Law Journal, November, 2014

Recognition

Recognized in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America,” 2025–2026

Recognized in The Legal 500 U.S. for Government Relations, 2025

Recognized in Chambers USA for Government Relations: Congressional Investigations, 2024–2025

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • District of Columbia

Education

  • The George Washington University Law SchoolJ.D.with Honors
    Articles Editor, The George Washington Law Review
  • Ohio UniversityB.A., Political Science
    Phi Beta Kappa