Dunleavy administration hires firm for Alaska Permanent Fund review

The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen Monday, June 6, 2022 in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has hired an international law firm to review the leadership structure and conflict-of-interest policies of the state agency that manages Alaska's $80 billion oil wealth endowment, following multiple controversies.

Alaska Permanent Fund board to consider changes after leak of concerns over trustee

Dunleavy's office last month hired WilmerHale under a contract capped at $50,000 for its review of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.'s framework, and its "board composition, expertise, diversity and succession planning." The firm will recommend improvements to "governance processes" and for avoiding "perceived conflicts of interest," according to the contract.

The WilmerHale representative who signed the contract was attorney Alyssa DeCunha, who's done high-profile work with Ivy League university presidents during congressional hearings, according to the New York Times, and also worked for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his legal fight against securities fraud charges.

The contract runs through the end of December.