Senior Commerce Department Official with Deep Congressional Investigations Experience Joins Eversheds Sutherland

Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that Blake Roberts has joined the firm as a partner and will co-lead the Congressional Investigations practice. Based in our Washington, DC, office, Mr. Roberts brings nearly two decades of experience representing clients in congressional investigations and high-profile Washington controversies.

He most recently served as principal Deputy General Counsel of the US Commerce Department, where he led responses to congressional oversight and advised on export controls, trade, AI, industrial policy, and other matters at the intersection of national security and commerce.

"Blake's arrival is an important development as we continue to strengthen our congressional investigations capabilities and build on the firm’s global presence and national security and trade expertise to meet growing client demand," said Lino Mendiola, Global Co-CEO and US Chief Executive of Eversheds Sutherland. "Blake’s perspective, from his time in government and in private practice, will be particularly beneficial to clients navigating congressional investigations and other legal matters that intersect with government, politics, global commerce, and national security.”

At the Commerce Department, Mr. Roberts led the Department’s response to congressional oversight and advised clients on cutting-edge issues, in addition to helping lead an office of more than 300 lawyers. Prior to that, Mr. Roberts practiced as a partner at an international law firm in Washington, DC, focusing on congressional oversight, crisis management, and government-facing investigations and litigation, representing companies, universities, and senior officials in administrations of both parties. He previously served in the White House Counsel’s Office, advising on a wide range of oversight, litigation, compliance and policy matters.

Mr. Roberts will co-lead the Congressional Investigations practice alongside Partner Neal Higgins, who joined the firm in late 2023. They will represent clients in investigations and prepare executives to testify at hearings. Mr. Roberts will also be a member of the firm’s National Security Investigations and Competition, Trade, and Foreign Investment groups, where he will counsel clients on export controls, trade, industrial policy, and other matters involving global commerce and national security. “With Blake’s experience at the crossroads of government, policy, politics and reputational risk, our practice is even better positioned to advise clients through congressional inquiries, enforcement actions, and complex crises that demand a comprehensive legal strategy and response,” Mr. Higgins said. “I know our clients and our team will benefit from Blake’s arrival to the firm, and I look forward to leading the practice with him.”

Mr. Roberts takes over as co-lead of the Congressional Investigations practice from Partner Michael Bahar, who became co-head of the Litigation Practice Group (US) earlier this year. Mr. Bahar also co-leads the firm’s global Data Privacy, Security & Technology Group. “I have known Blake since our time together at the White House,” Mr. Bahar said.  “He is a phenomenal talent with transformative abilities and vision. Clients will gain a significant advantage with Blake in their corner, and I am so happy to welcome him into the Litigation Group.”

Mr. Roberts commented, "I am thrilled to join Eversheds Sutherland. From congressional investigations to federal intervention in the private sector, clients face challenges that require sophisticated counsel, global perspective, and management of political and reputational risk. I look forward to collaborating with Neal and the global team at Eversheds Sutherland to achieve exceptional results for clients."

As co-lead of the Congressional Investigations practice, Mr. Roberts joins a deep bench of partners across disciplines, including Michael Bahar,  Jeff Bialos,  Jeff Cottle, Patrick Gilman,  Neal Higgins,  Mark Herlach, Will O’Brien, Sarah Paul, Caroline Setliffe, and Daniel McCarty.

With one of the world’s largest disputes practices, Eversheds Sutherland’s Global Litigation team continues to grow at pace. Mr. Roberts’s joining comes on the heels of the firm’s announcement in July of the arrival of Partner Bradford Newman, Head of Complex Technology Disputes, and the opening of the firm’s new Silicon Valley office.