Telecoms and broadcast: transactions in United States

In Washington DC, DLA Piper LLP (US) covers the traditional telecoms and broadcast industry as well as emerging, tech-driven entities such as drones, connected cars, and IoT. Co-head Michael Senkowski is a renowned industry veteran and has acted as lead counsel on the industry-shaping merger of T-Mobile and Sprint. Fellow co-head Nancy Victory acted alongside Senkowski in this matter. She is an eminent authority in the sector in her own right, with particular expertise in communications policy, FCC enforcement, and foreign ownership issues. The firm is known for its international expertise, with practitioners such as Michael Hazzard, who focuses on global communications, infrastructure, and software companies and recently led the team alongside Victory in a cross-border submarine cable transaction covering several jurisdictions, for HCL Limited Partnership. Associate Peter Shroyer was actively involved in the T-Mobile/Sprint transaction and regularly handles matters requiring FCC approval including spectrum auctions. The firm is expanding its satellite practice through experts such as Tony Lin, a February 2021 arrival from Hogan Lovells US LLP, who focuses on NewSpace companies and smallsat entrepreneurs. Other key members of the team include of counsel Andrew Sacks.

With a dedicated telecoms transactions team closely supported by the firm’s regulatory practice, Hogan Lovells US LLP handles key mandates both on the domestic and foreign level, with Washington DC leading all operations. Based in Northern Virginia and offering extensive multi-jurisdictional experience, Randy Segal co-heads the space & satellite practice and advises companies on transactions involving innovative technologies. In the past year, she has led the team in advising Columbia Capital and its portfolio companies in their dealings with FCC spectrum auctions, development of 3D GPS communications systems, and global hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks. Back in Washington DC Steven Kaufman co-heads the space & satellite practice together with Segal, advising clients on joint ventures, financings, and M&A. Head of the firm’s global technology and telecoms industry sector group Mark Brennan is an expert on international telecoms and internet law, counselling clients such as Advance Publications on cutting-edge issues on the intersection of telecoms and technology. The firm’s communications, internet, and media practice is lead by Ari Fitzgerald , a regulatory powerhouse who advises communications network operators, manufacturers, industry associations, and investors on communications and spectrum policy matters and strategy. Counsel Arpan Sura is active in relation to spectrum policy proceedings and advises on the intersection of consumer protection and telecoms. They welcome senior counsel Gerry Oberst back to the Washington DC office, a seasoned advisor on issues pertaining to satellite, broadcast, and technology issues. Tony Lin has departed. 

With a team covering transactions pertaining to wireless, semiconductors, and cable both on the surface as well as submarine, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP covers the whole of the traditional telecoms and broadcast industry, both in the US and cross-border transactions. Robert Townsend III leads the practice from New York, focusing his expertise on M&A and corporate governance. He is representing Hawaiian Telecom Holdco Inc. in the $50m acquisition of inter-island submarine and middle-mile terrestrial fiber infrastructure assets owned by the bankruptcy estate of Paniolo Cable Company, LLC. A highly active part of Townsend’s team and involved in the firm’s recent most outstanding matters is Andrew Elken , another specialist in M&A and corporate governance as well as general corporate matters.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP covers M&A and investments in the telecoms and broadcast space with a particular focus on the satellite and broadcast sectors. Clients additionally benefit from the firm’s dedicated technology and IP transactions practice that works as an integral part of the broader team. Michael Aiello leads the team, an experienced corporate practitioner- he recently led the team out of New York in representation of SiriusXM in the acquisition of Stitcher and 99% Invisible Inc. Co-head of the transactions practice Frederick Green , also based in New York, worked alongside Aiello in this matter, and focuses his practice on corporate and securities law.  Another such expert is Brian Gingold who heads the real assets practice. Gingold is based in New York and in a recent highlight advised AMP Capital Investors in its acquisition of ITS ConGlobal. Howard Chatzinoff has retired from the firm.

Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP in Washington DC is a powerhouse in financing transactions in the telecoms sector, evidenced by a large list of banks relying on the firm for complex transactions in the industry. Practice head Chérie Kiser  has additionally represented several key players in the sector  including Cable One. Kiser works closely with counsel Angela Collins who represents companies operating in the space in negotiations, regulatory compliance, and litigation. Recently the two have handled several complex transactions for Consolidated Communications Inc. 

Clients come to Debevoise & Plimpton LLP for matters of high strategic significance, evidenced by the firm’s leading role in the acquisition of WarnerMedia by Discovery. Based in New York, practice co-head Michael Gillespie has an international reach, he advises company boards and investors on their activities around the globe. Alongside Gillespie in New York, co-head Jonathan Levitsky is a specialist in public and private mergers and joint ventures who led the team in their representation of Discovery. In San Francisco, co-head Michael Diz has a broad transactional practice, complemented by his additional expertise in advising on corporate governance and fiduciary duties.

A go-to firm for major clients such as AT&T in Washington DC, Arnold & Porter guides its clients through the regulatory maze which accompanies their most complex transactions. Maureen Jeffreys chairs the practice and is a specialist in regulatory compliance who represents companies before the FCC and NTIA. Alongside Jeffreys, Peter Schildkraut co-leads the team, a specialist in rulemaking and administrative litigation he counsels clients on spectrum use and broadband matters.

Perkins Coie LLP has carved out its niche in Washington DC within the broader telecoms and broadcast market by focusing its expertise on representing hi-tech companies operating in this space. The practice is led by Marc Martin, who structures agreements around technology like mobile applications and distribution platforms and recently headed the team in representation of Google in a matter pertaining to city cable and franchise fees. Stephanie Roy provides counsel both on the domestic and global level, advising clients like Facebook on issues of satellite, fiber, and terrestrial wireless. Eric Greenberg departed the firm in August 2021 for an in-house position.

The telecoms & broadcast team of Proskauer Rose LLP position themselves at the forefront of digital distribution, handling matters pertaining to traditional internet platforms and emerging OTT services such as Hulu, AMC Networks, and fuboTV and recently advised on industry-shaping M&A  for Discovery and ForgeLight. Headquartered in New York, the practice is led by Lauren Boglivi, Sandra Crawshaw-Sparks, Robert Freeman, and Jeffrey Neuburger. Will Chuchawat is an active dealmaker within the team, while Vishnu Shankar joined from Sidley Austin LLP in April 2021.

As specialists in cable and satellite matters, the Washington DC-based team of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is a go-to counsel for OneWeb, who alongside the firm’s other clients additionally benefits from the practice’s close relationship and integration of the firm’s litigation practice. Practice head Brian Weimer  is an authority on matters pertaining to the satellite and wireless industries leads the team in representation of OneWeb. His colleague Drew Svor focuses on M&A and matters before the ‘Team Telecom’ government agencies in representing satellite and wireless companies. While Ray Rutngamlug  has left the practice to work in-house, Stephen Chernow has joined the firm as special counsel, having previously worked in senior in-house positions in the telecoms sector.

Experts in all sectors of the telecoms and broadcast industry, the Washington DC-based team at Telecommunications Law Professionals are specialists in advising clients on the regulatory aspects of complex transactions. Carl W. Northrop is a founding member with a longstanding reputation in the field, both in contractual negotiations and litigation. Alongside him works managing member Michael Lazarus who focuses his expertise on roaming agreements with wireless carriers. Their team includes Jessica Gyllstrom, an expert on contracts pertaining to submarine and fiber optic cable systems. Dennis Corbett further bolsters the firm’s expertise with his extensive experience in litigating telecoms matters. Additionally, Gregg Skall advises real estate developers on acquisitions of broadband and local exchange telecoms services.