Law firm Akin taps Democratic judiciary committee lawyer for congressional investigations practice

By David Thomas

March 24 (Reuters) - U.S. law firm Akin Gump said Tuesday it has hired a lawyer for Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee, adding a leader to its congressional investigations practice ahead of midterm elections where the party could recapture at least one chamber of Congress.

Marcus Childress is joining Akin's Washington, D.C., office after serving as senior adviser to U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee and a Maryland Democrat, and as special counsel to the committee, the firm said.

"Marcus is a long-term play for Akin," said Abigail Kohlman, the co-leader of Akin's congressional investigations practice, regardless of which party has control of the U.S. House or Senate following the midterm elections in November. But if Democrats do retake control, "Marcus is going to be the go-to guy," she said.

All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one-third of the ​Senate's 100 seats will be ⁠at stake in the upcoming November elections. Democrats are aiming to take control of the House but face longer odds in the Senate.

Childress said even before the election, the looming midterms have set up a balancing act for companies trying to keep Republican congressional committee chairs happy while also satisfying the Democratic ranking members who want to push their own agenda next year.

"It forces companies to figure how much do we cooperate with these ranking members in light of the fact that these individuals might have the gavel after these midterm elections," Childress said.

Childress, a former Jenner & Block partner, was one of the first attorneys to join the congressional committee that probed the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump's supporters. He conducted more than 60 depositions and witness interviews in the investigation, including of members of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

The former leaders of Akin's congressional investigations practice, Raphael Prober and Karen Christian, left the firm to join Simpson Thacher & Bartlett last month. Another former Akin partner in the same practice, Thomas Moyer, joined law firm Bracewell in January.