Telecom, Media & Technology Attorneys

Overview

From firsthand industry experience, to government decision-makers, to in-house engineering expertise, our group of more than 60 attorneys, public policy advisors, and engineers is the foremost team providing premier legal advice and counsel for the full spectrum of legal, business, and regulatory matters affecting the telecommunications, media, and technology industries.

Our practice encompasses an exceptionally broad range of technologies, from traditional matters – such as spectrum allocation, license applications, regulatory compliance, agency investigations, content licensing and distribution, pole attachment proceedings, litigation, and the like – to rapidly evolving innovations such as blockchain, fintech regulation, and issues associated with the Internet and the Internet of Things (IoT).

What we do.

Our TMT Team is distinguished by an unsurpassed expertise regarding U.S. and international government institutions that shape and administer all manner of relevant regulations and policies. A few highlights:

We are a DC firm, with decades of experience working closely with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the White House, all of the relevant administrative agencies, and the Congress. Many of our TMT attorneys have served in the key regulatory agencies governing the industry as well as on Capitol Hill. Others started their careers in the businesses we serve. This experience gives our team credibility, influence, practical understanding, and an invaluable ability to anticipate and negotiate regulatory and business issues, sometimes even before they arise.
We have a wealth of knowledge and experience in legal and regulatory issues related to cybersecurity and privacy, particularly Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforcement, the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA), and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We effectively represent TMT clients in proceedings related to these regulations, and counsel them on compliance-related issues and strategies.
We are also recognized authorities in the legal and regulatory issues of technology-related supply chains, including the potential national security and trade policy implications of telecom and technology products imported from countries such as China. Our attorneys are known for their ability to provide exceptionally strategic, insightful counsel on these topics, and have assisted clients with strategies such as restricting buying patterns to help manage potential regulation.
We have extensive experience counseling clients on transactions relating to the purchase or sale of, or structuring investment in, media and telecommunications assets. As technology becomes embedded in every business, this is an increasingly significant capability. As both the scope and impact of regulatory involvement with these deals expands, regulators are addressing correspondingly broader questions, such as the definition of markets and how data collection and new revenue streams may impact personal privacy. Our attorneys help clients anticipate and manage these inquiries to ensure the successful completion of transactions.

Why we are different.

Our professionals include individuals who have occupied high-level positions at the FCC, the FTC, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as on Capitol Hill, including a former Chairman of the FCC, a former FCC Commissioner, and a former FCC Media Bureau Chief, as well as the former U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy (Ambassador) and a former Acting Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Because an in-depth technical expertise is essential to effectively advising TMT clients, our practice also includes an in-house engineering team. Few other law firms can offer this capability, which facilitates our legal capabilities and helps support clear, effective communication with clients concerning their technologies.
Embedded within our TMT Practice are public policy advisors whose significant experience on Capitol Hill includes serving on the House and Senate committees whose actions most influence the TMT sector. Their contacts within government agencies and on Capitol Hill, as well as their unique perspective and ability to anticipate and navigate the political climate in DC, ensure sound overall strategies and help our clients avoid unforeseen pitfalls.

Regardless of the technology, the scope of the matter, or the regulatory or legal agency involved, our team understands how industry challenges today cross disciplines and touch multiple areas of law and regulations. That’s why we remain unmatched in providing clients with the most experienced, innovative, and creative legal team anywhere. And our successes prove it. Whether the matter is routine or cutting-edge, large or small, our clients rely on our capabilities to anticipate challenges, craft policies, and create solutions to benefit their businesses.

Areas of Specialty

The size and experience of Wiley’s TMT Practice enables us to handle the full scope of telecommunications, wireless, litigation, international, satellite, and media issues – from headline-setting, billion-dollar mergers to business disputes and regulatory initiatives. At the same time, our flexible structure allows us to make use of small teams or individual attorneys to serve all of our clients in a cost-effective, efficient, and creative manner. Our areas of specialty include: