Holtzman Vogel Adds Brian D. Nieves, Former DOJ Chief of Staff, as Partner
Former senior DOJ official, White House aide, and congressional counsel strengthens the firm’s government investigations, enforcement, and regulatory capabilities in Washington, D.C.
Holtzman Vogel, a nationally recognized law firm specializing in political law, regulatory matters, and high-profile litigation, today announced that Brian D. Nieves has joined the firm as a partner resident in the Washington, D.C. office. Most recently, Nieves served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General under Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—currently serving as Acting Attorney General. Nieves brings to the firm senior-level experience across the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. House of Representatives, and the White House. He will advise clients on government investigations, white-collar defense, regulatory compliance, congressional oversight, and high-stakes enforcement matters.
In his role as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Attorney General, Nieves helped coordinate department-wide policy and enforcement priorities across DOJ components, federal agencies, and the White House on sensitive legal and regulatory matters. He also advised senior DOJ leadership on high-profile matters involving national security, complex criminal investigations, congressional oversight, and executive action. He concurrently served as Chief of Staff for Policy in the Office of the Associate Attorney General, helping coordinate policy, regulatory, and enforcement matters across the DOJ’s civil components.
“Few attorneys have had the opportunity to serve at the highest levels of the Department of Justice, the White House, and Congress, and Brian is one of them,” said Jill Holtzman Vogel, founding partner of Holtzman Vogel. “He has worked at the center of consequential legal, regulatory, and oversight matters in government, giving him an exceptional understanding of how decisions are made, how investigations and enforcement matters develop, and how clients can navigate a constantly changing regulatory environment.”
Before joining the Department of Justice, Nieves served as Deputy Chief Counsel for Oversight on the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, advising Members of Congress on constitutional, regulatory, and oversight matters and leading complex congressional investigations. During the Trump-Vance Transition, Nieves helped lead Senate confirmation strategy and preparation for multiple senior Department of Justice nominees. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, where he served as Director of Appointments.
“I have been thoroughly impressed by the caliber of attorneys at Holtzman Vogel and the impact they are making on behalf of their clients,” said Nieves. “The firm has built the kind of serious, battle-tested team that clients need when legal, regulatory, congressional, and political pressures converge. I’m excited to bring my experience at the Department of Justice, on Capitol Hill, and in the White House to help clients understand how decisions are made inside government, anticipate where matters are headed, and navigate high-stakes investigations, enforcement matters, and oversight challenges with judgment and credibility.”
A graduate of Rutgers Law School and Rutgers University graduate, Nieves joins Holtzman Vogel as part of a wave of distinguished hires, including Abhishek Kambli and Akiva Shapiro. His arrival reflects the firm’s continued commitment to expanding its best-in-class regulatory enforcement, government investigations, and congressional investigations practices. With these strategic hires, Holtzman Vogel continues to build a team equipped to handle the most complex and high-profile legal challenges clients face today.
