When a company receives a subpoena from a congressional committee, it needs a specific kind of lawyer. Congressional investigations, the practice of managing formal inquiries from lawmakers including document production and hearing strategy, sit at the edge of legal defense and political navigation. James Bair, who served as Google's Regulatory Affairs Counsel for Global Legislative Oversight, joined law firm Crowell & Moring on July 15, 2026 as a partner and Head of Congressional Investigations in Washington, D.C.
What the role actually covers
Bair's new home is Crowell & Moring's White Collar and Regulatory Enforcement practice. White collar, in plain terms, is legal defense work for corporations and executives facing government scrutiny: formal investigations, enforcement actions, and inquiries from federal regulators or legislators.
Congressional investigations occupy a distinct corner of that world. The House and Senate hold subpoena power, the legal authority to compel document production and sworn testimony. That is the same lever federal prosecutors pull, but the political dynamics around a congressional inquiry differ from a criminal one. Hearings are public. Committee chairs control the calendar. Reputational pressure arrives faster than any court ruling can.
Companies that find themselves in that environment need lawyers who understand the procedural rules and the political mechanics at the same time.
Where Bair comes from
At Google, Bair's title was Regulatory Affairs Counsel for Global Legislative Oversight. That is an inside role, not outside counsel. Inside counsel tracking legislative oversight monitors what lawmakers around the world want from the company and shapes how the company responds, often before any formal demand arrives.
That earlier seat at the table is what law firms value when they recruit from corporate legal departments. The hire brings to Crowell & Moring someone who has watched congressional attention land on one of the most-scrutinized technology companies in Washington.
What the announcement says and what it does not
Crowell & Moring confirmed that Bair holds a partner title, leads the congressional investigations group, and is based in Washington, D.C. The firm did not disclose the financial terms of the arrangement or any pending client commitments.
The announcement was dated July 15, 2026.