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Rachel F. Cotton

Partner

Washington, D.C.

Tel +1 202.942.6363

rachel.cotton@arnoldporter.com

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Rachel Cotton advises organizations and senior executives facing high-stakes government scrutiny, drawing on her background leading investigations strategy inside the White House and elsewhere in the Executive Branch. She co-chairs the firm’s Crisis Management and Strategic Response team and focuses on congressional and executive branch investigations, white collar matters, and crisis response.

Prior to joining Arnold & Porter, Rachel served as Deputy Counsel to the President in the White House Counsel’s Office, where she oversaw and coordinated the White House’s legal strategy in response to congressional oversight and government investigations involving the President and White House officials. She worked closely with senior White House officials to assess legal, political, and institutional risk and to coordinate responses across stakeholders.

Rachel also held senior general counsel roles in Executive Branch agencies, serving as General Counsel to the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy and as Deputy General Counsel in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. In those roles, she advised agency leadership on investigations, oversight matters, and complex issues at the intersection of law and policy.

Rachel’s experience also includes service as counsel to a special investigative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, providing her with firsthand insight into congressional investigative processes. Earlier in her career, Rachel was a partner in private practice and before law school, she served as a communications staffer in the U.S. Senate.

Focus Areas

White Collar Defense & Investigations

Congressional Oversight & Investigations

Crisis Management & Strategic Response

Experience

Elite university in an investigation by the House Judiciary Committee on antitrust issues.

U.S. university in an investigation by the House Education and Workforce Committee into antisemitism in higher education, including preparing university president for testimony at a public hearing.

Multiple tax-exempt organizations in an investigation by House Homeland Security regarding use of federal funds.

Former Cabinet Secretary in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Private company in an investigation by the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

Environmental non-profit in investigations before multiple House committees.

Perspectives

June 24, 2026

The Midterm Fallout: Why Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources Firms Should Expect a Wave of Capitol Hill Scrutiny

Environmental Edge: Climate Change & Regulatory Insights

June 18, 2026

What to Do if the Government Comes Knocking: A Preparedness Guide for Nonprofits in the NSPM-7 Enforcement Environment

Enforcement Edge: Shining Light on Government Enforcement

June 4, 2026

Chambers USA 2026 Ranks 142 Arnold & Porter Lawyers, 75 Practices

April 16, 2026

The Midterm Elections Are Coming — Prepare Now for Congressional Investigations

Advisory

January 5, 2026

DOJ Issues Sweeping New Domestic Terrorism Directive: What the Attorney General’s December 4 Memorandum Means for You (pdf)

Practical Guidance

More

May 7, 2026

In the Room: Former Officials on National Security and Other Enforcement Issues and What It Means for Your Business

Arnold & Porter Presentation

January 14, 2025

How Courts are Shaping Congress’ Power to Investigate 2025

Panelist, Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy

Recognition

Chambers USA

Government Relations: Congressional Investigations (Nationwide) (2026)

Lawdragon 500

"Global Leaders" Investigations, Litigation, White Collar, Crisis Management (2025-2026)

Credentials

Education

J.D., Yale Law School, 2009

B.A., Brown University, 2004, magna cum laude

Admissions

District of Columbia

New York

Government & Military Service

Deputy Counsel to the President, Office of the White House Counsel (2024-2025)

Senior Counsel and Special Assistant to the President, Office of the White House Counsel (2023-2024)

Associate Counsel and Special Assistant to the President, Office of the White House Counsel (2022-2023)

General Counsel, White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (2022)

Deputy General Counsel, U.S. Office of Personnel Management (2021-2022)

Counsel, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, U.S. House of Representatives (2020)

Clerkships

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, The Honorable Diana Gribbon Motz (2011-2012)

U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, The Honorable Henry H. Kennedy Jr. (2010-2011)

Activities

Edward Bennett Inn of Court (2014-present)

D.C. Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct Review Committee (2017-2021)

Overview

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