John Irving

Deep Government Insight. Strategic Crisis Counsel.

John Irving brings nearly three decades of experience in white collar criminal defense, government investigations, and high-stakes congressional and corporate inquiries. A former federal prosecutor and trusted advisor within the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency, John is known for his calm under pressure, strategic clarity, and unwavering discretion.

His clients have included Members of Congress, senior executives, political appointees, and corporate entities navigating complex criminal, civil, and regulatory matters—including matters that have dominated national headlines. John’s practice today is defined by sophisticated representation in sensitive investigations, classified matters, and strategic crisis response—often involving multiple enforcement authorities.

A Former Prosecutor with Frontline Experience

John served for over a decade in the U.S. Department of Justice, including as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., where he prosecuted a wide range of criminal cases and appeared regularly in court. He later served as Counsel to two Deputy Attorneys General and as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General of DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, advising on departmental policy and enforcement matters at the highest levels.

Prior to his tenure at DOJ, John served as Investigative Counsel to the (then-named) U.S. House Committee on Government Reform & Oversight and as an Associate Independent Counsel in the investigation of former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros.

From Federal Service to Private Practice

Before joining SECIL Law, John was a Partner at E&W Law, a boutique firm focused on environmental and white-collar litigation, and previously spent over a decade at Holland & Knight LLP in Washington, D.C. There, he was a key member of the firm’s White-Collar Defense, Investigations & Compliance team.

His private practice experience includes:

• Representing a co-defendant in the Mar-a-Lago Special Counsel classified documents case.
• Defense counsel in United States v. Peter Navarro, a high-profile case involving contempt of Congress and executive privilege.
• Counsel to Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) in matters involving the Speech or Debate Clause.
• Representation of individuals and entities in FCPA, False Claims Act, campaign finance, and Clean Water Act investigations.
• Advising witnesses and targets in congressional investigations, including appearances before the January 6 Select Committee.
• Serving as Assistant Special Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee in the impeachment of a U.S. District Court Judge.

John’s clients appreciate his deep fluency in government processes, his strategic precision in high-pressure moments, and his ability to quietly resolve matters that others cannot.