WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 14, 2026) – Holland & Knight has fortified its Regulatory Practice with the addition of Partner Arya Hariharan in Washington, D.C. Ms. Hariharan brings more than a decade of senior-level experience on Capitol Hill, including leadership roles on both the U.S. House and Senate Judiciary Committees, where she served at the forefront of some of the most consequential congressional investigations and oversight matters of the past decade.
Ms. Hariharan joins Holland & Knight from the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she served as chief oversight counsel to ranking member Richard Durbin (D-Ill.). In that role, she advised on investigative strategy, policy development and messaging related to congressional oversight. She managed inquiries spanning, but not limited to, public corruption, federal contractors, agency oversight, government surveillance, cryptocurrency, immigration, antitrust and cybersecurity. Prior to her Senate service, she was chief oversight counsel and deputy chief oversight counsel to Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) on the House Judiciary Committee, where she led teams responsible for developing strategy, managing high-profile hearings and preparing witnesses for testimony on a wide range of issues.
"As we navigate a continuously shifting, deeply polarized political landscape, it is imperative that we prepare our clients to face increased oversight in a number of areas," said Robert Friedman, co-leader of Holland & Knight's Regulatory Practice. "Arya is recognized throughout her field as a highly accomplished congressional investigator with an enormous amount of firsthand Capitol Hill experience and senior-level relationships. Her sophisticated understanding of congressional procedure, stakeholder dynamics and investigative strategy will be an invaluable asset, and we are pleased to welcome her to the Firm."
"As the Firm continues to advise clients on the coming wave of Democratic-led congressional investigations, there are few lawyers with better insights, experience and connections than Arya. She is an amazing addition to our team and a great value to our clients," said Christopher Armstrong, co-leader of Holland & Knight's Congressional Investigations Team.
Ms. Hariharan's practice will focus on navigating the intersection of law, policy and politics to deftly advise clients facing congressional investigations throughout every stage of an inquiry. She uses her numerous years of experience developing effective crisis responses and securing strategic political allies to guide clients through hearings, transcribed interviews, depositions, subpoenas and related matters.
"Holland & Knight is expanding a practice that is distinctly positioned to serve clients facing the increasingly complex intersection of congressional oversight, policy, politics and crisis management," Ms. Hariharan said. "Regardless of what happens in the midterms this year, it's clear that the appetite for congressional investigations is extremely strong with topics like artificial intelligence, data privacy, government contracting and foreign influence drawing bipartisan scrutiny. I look forward to using my experience to bolster the Firm's practice."
Throughout her career, Ms. Hariharan has worked closely with nearly every major House and Senate committee, and she maintains an extensive bipartisan network spanning Congress, national media, current and former administration officials and retired federal judges. Her work has been recognized in numerous books and publications, and she has been named among the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics & Public Affairs (NAAPPPA) Top 40 Under 40 Asian American and Pacific Islander Political Operatives and Public Affairs Professionals. She is also a Truman National Security Project Security Fellow and a New America Foundation AAPI National Security and Foreign Policy Next Generation Leader.
The addition of Ms. Hariharan comes at a time when the Firm is expanding the capabilities of its industry-leading Congressional Investigations Team. In April, the Firm welcomed Ashley Joyner Chavous from Covington & Burling.
Ms. Hariharan earned a J.D. degree from William & Mary Law School and a B.A. degree from American University.