Wiley Rein’s Telecommunications Practice and Richard Wiley Receive Top Honors from Chambers USA; Five Partners Named Leading Lawyers

June 26, 2008

The 2008 edition of Chambers USA:  America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has bestowed top honors to Wiley Rein’s Communications Practice and its Chair, Richard E. Wiley, recognition they have received each year since the directory’s inception.  Accolades extend to partners R. Michael Senkowski, Andrew G. McBride, Henry M. Rivera, Peter D. Shields and Nancy J. Victory, who are named among the industry’s “Leading Lawyers.”

Peers praised Wiley Rein—which regularly serves as regulatory counsel for some of the industry’s largest mergers and acquisitions, such as BellSouth/AT&T, Comcast/Adelphia and SIRIUS on its proposed merger with XM Satellite Radio—for being “among the best-known communications boutiques around.”  Clients from the telecom, broadcast and satellite industries recognize the firm as “a clear market leader,” hailing it as “the most powerful and experienced firm in dealing with the FCC – no other firm is quite as plugged in.” 

Richard E. Wiley, chair of the firm’s Communications Practice and former FCC Chairman, is singled out as a “Star Performer” and reigns as “the undisputed king of US communications lawyers.”  Colleagues, peers and clients laud him as “the best-known and best-connected telecom lawyer in DC” and place him “in a league of his own.”

Telecommunications Practice chair Michael Senkowski, leads the group’s 40+ attorneys and engineers and acts for wireline and wireless providers and equipment manufacturers such as Nokia and LG.  Clients praise his “undivided attention and dedication”and appreciate his “efficient marshaling of resources.”

Representative of the depth of the practice, several of the group’s partners are singled out for recognition.  Litigator Andrew G. McBride receives kudos for being “well-versed at trial and appellate levels.”  Peter D. Shields and Nancy J. Victory are identified as “two of the more prominent attorneys among the group’s ‘highly specialized younger generation.’”  Ms. Victory’s peers also told Chambers that she “admirably applies her experience of serving in the Commerce Department and the FCC.” Former FCC Commissioner Henry M. Rivera is notable for  “combining his FCC knowledge with significant Capitol Hill savvy.”

The Chambers ratings are based on extensive interviews of law firms’ clients, colleagues and competitors.  Inclusion in the directory is determined through a rigorous vetting process whereby Chambers researchers evaluate law firms and attorneys on a number of factors.