The Washington DC-based telecoms practice at DLA Piper LLP (US) leverages the global resources and strong M&A capabilities of the broader firm to represent high-profile clients in the telecoms sector in their complex, business-critical transactions. The firm’s strong regulatory capabilities complements the transactional work, able to provide comprehensive assistance for complex transactions, illustrated by the firm’s representation of T-Mobile in its merger with Sprint. The team’s work cuts across all sectors of telecoms and broadcast with a significant and growing practice in space and satellite, the firm supporting operators in this sector through business arrangements and strategy as well as regulatory and technical issues. The team is co-led by distinguished figures Michael Senkowski and Nancy Victory who are noted for their work leading the work on the T-Mobile merger, and whose practices otherwise cut across wireless, traditional telecom, media, and satellite. Michael and Nancy frequently work alongside Edward Smith whose expertise is equally broad in scope, exemplified by his assistance in both market entry for satellite companies and the planning of new submarine cables. Eric DeSilva specializes in wireless, and represents clients on the full range of work in this space, and Michael Hazzard focusses on global communications and infrastructure companies in their multi-jurisdictional mandates, covering corporate restructuring, market entry, and commercial transactions. Associate Peter Shroyer brings his experience working at the FCC to securing approval for transactions, working on the T-Mobile merger, and spectrum auctions.

Hogan Lovells US LLP advises market-leading companies in the telecoms and broadcast space on the full range of transactional matters, providing end-to-end representation through both the complementary work of the firm’s strong regulatory practice and the global resources of the wider firm. The team has experience working across the sector, with a particularly strong offering in space, satellite, wireless, and Internet of Things. Alexis Sáinz  joined the firm from Milbank in September 2022, co-leading the team on its satellite projects with extensive experience in the industry, advising on the development and financing of satellites and related assets. The Washington DC-based team is also led by Steven Kaufman, who has worked on a number of joint ventures, financings, and M&A, with a track record of leading first of their kind transactions in the space sector. The DC team works closely with co-lead Randy Segal in North Virginia, who focusses on cutting-edge work in satellite, wireless, drone, and technology transactions. The transactional team is bolstered by its close integration with the regulatory team, able to rely on Ari Fitzgerald, Michele Farquhar, and Mark W. Brennan to advise clients on all of the regulatory aspects of transactional work, just as it is able to draw on the firm’s broader corporate M&A practice, namely Keith Flaum, to assist with M&A in the telecoms space.

Working out of Washington DC, Latham & Watkins LLP utilises both the strong M&A capabilities and broad geographical footprint of the wider firm in conjunction with its active FCC practice to provide complete coverage for clients in their complex telecoms transactions. Having joined the telecoms and broadcast with the data privacy and security, and digital copyright practices, the firm is equipped to offer an integrated approach to corporate transactions where these areas intersect. The firm advises across all telecoms and broadcast sectors, working with significant telecoms operators, infrastructure companies, and investors in the industry on a number of high-value M&A, take-private, and take-public transactions. The team is led by Matthew A. Brill, employing his expertise that cuts across transactional, litigation, and regulatory to advise major telecoms and broadcast operators as well as investors and lenders in the industry on all aspects of their M&A mandates. He works alongside James H. Barker, who has worked on the regulatory and commercial aspects of various infrastructure, terrestrial broadcast, and private equity investment transactions, and Matthew T. Murchison, who brings a similar interdisciplinary breadth of expertise on a range of transactions in the telecom, broadcast, and satellite space.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP advises on the full range of transactions across the telecoms and broadcast space, focusing on the corporate aspect of business-critical M&A and financing mandates for major companies and investors active in the sector. The firm’s market-leading M&A practice is well-equipped to represent clients on complex, high-value, cross-border transactions, with further strengths in tax, corporate governance, and intellectual property. The New York-based practice is co-headed by Robert Townsend III, whose extensive expertise in all types of M&A and corporate governance has resulted in a track record of advising on a number of high-profile telecoms deals. Also active in this space is Andrew Elken, whose recent work includes advising Rogers Communications on its pending C$26bn acquisition of Shaw Communications, and representing Cyrus in its $15bn acquisition by KKR and Global Infrastructure Partners.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has a strong record in telecoms infrastructure deals, working on an international scale in representing major infrastructure funds and telecoms companies in the acquisition and sale of infrastructure assets. The Washington DC-based practice has been bolstered by the addition of David Plotinsky and Denise Wood from the Department of Justice and an in-house position in the sector respectively, providing further depth of expertise in transactions related to foreign-ownership and high-profile market players. Andrew D. Lipman leads the practice, regularly advising major funds and banks, working alongside deputy practice head Catherine Wang, who uses her corporate expertise in her focus on M&A and financing transactions. Ulises Pin is noted for his cross-border work in infrastructure investment; Andrew Ray has extensive M&A experience as the head of the corporate and business transactions team; Kimberly Taylor is similarly active in the M&A space, while Tamar Finn has a greater focus on the regulatory aspects of such transactions; and Ronald Del Sesto, Jr brings his expertise in technology.

Operating from New York, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP combines a longstanding presence in the telecoms and broadcast space with the cross-departmental capabilities of the wider firm; able to leverage the firm’s offerings in M&A, intellectual property, finance, and tax in conjunction with industry expertise, the practice is well-equipped to service clients in the telecoms sector on their complex corporate transactions, both in the US and internationally. Jonathan Levitsky heads the practice, focusing primarily on public and private M&A and joint ventures in the telecoms and media space, working for a wide range of clients such as private equity, healthcare, and market-leading telecoms and broadcast operators. Michael Gillespie is noted for his strong corporate practice, acting for a range of companies and investors globally in telecoms M&A and other strategic transactions. Michael Diz, working from San Francisco, brings a broad-based transactional practice, advising major telecoms and broadcast clients as well as private equity investing in the space in respect of the structuring and negotiation of complex M&A and other corporate matters.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP combines expertise in private equity and M&A with experience working in the telecoms industry, making it well-equipped to advise on the full range of possible transactions. The firm has a track record working on cutting-edge corporate transactions, and has been retained as counsel by both high-profile telecoms operators as well as some of the most active investors. The practice also has a broad geographic reach, working on major cross-border transactions in Europe alongside a large number of terrestrial clients. Operating from New York, Bruce Gutenplan brings extensive experience in the full range of corporate transactions, with a more specific focus on infrastructure in the telecoms space. Brian Lavin is also notable for his work in a number of major M&A and financings, working with major investors in the telecoms space on their business-critical infrastructure transactions including some novel financing mandates.

Operating from New York, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP works with international telecoms companies and investors in the industry on a diverse array of corporate transactions, leveraging the firm’s broader capabilities in M&A, private equity, capital markets, technology, and intellectual property to assist in a range of M&A, financings, licensing, debt and equity offerings, and restructurings across the industry. The firm has a proven track record in cross-border transactions, and the strength of the firm’s IP and technology offering is a particular boon for the team’s clients in the telecoms space. Michael Aiello takes the lead on the firm’s work in the telecoms space, working with some of the most high-profile investors in the telecoms space in their major deals in the sector. Frederick Green brings a similar broad transactional capability, advising clients on M&A, spin-offs, and joint ventures, while Brian Gingold brings a greater focus on representing private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in their transactions in the space.

Arnold & Porter works with high-profile clients such as AT&T on their most substantial transactions from Washington DC, while also advising on a wide range of business-critical deals for regional broadcasters. Practice head Maureen Jeffreys has experience covering all mandates arising from transactions in the telecoms space, with comprehensive regulatory, transactional, and litigation expertise. Senior counsel Peter Schildkraut co-leads the team, with a background in assisting AT&T in all of its recent major communications transactions, working alongside senior counsel Scott Feira, who has represented clients before the FCC for merger reviews, license transfer proceedings, and debt and equity financing transactions.

The tech-oriented team at Perkins Coie LLP has carved out a notable space in the telecoms market, focusing its offering on comprehensive services for some of the most high-profile hi-tech companies in their telecoms-related activity. Marc Martin heads the practice, representing a number of blue-chip tech companies on their operations in the telecoms space such as his work on innovative 5G-connected AR/VR device distribution agreements.  Belinda Nixon is also of note, working in the satellites sector alongside Stephanie Roy with her additional specialization in advising on transactions at the international level, as are senior counsel Julien Bowers and counsel Brandon Johnson, who focus on tech transactions with more specific experience in telecoms.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP operates from Washington DC, providing transactional advice to global satellite companies and a range of regional broadcasters; the firm’s chief focus in this regard is spectrum work, representing their clients in spectrum sales and before the FCC in relation to spectrum auctions and related proceedings. Brian Weimer leads the practice, providing transactional and regulatory experience in his work focussing on satellite and investment in the satellite and wireless sectors, representing these investors before the FCC and the ITU in seeking approval for these transactions. Douglas Svor has a similar focus, representing satellite, wireless, and tech companies before the FCC and CFIUS in relation to M&A.

Telecommunications Law Professionals handles M&A and financing transactions in the telecoms space, employing its capabilities in handling the regulatory aspects of these major deals for a number of high-profile clients; the team has experience in both representing operators in this sector in their day-to-day transactions and assisting in more major projects, with notable work in telecoms infrastructure, specifically submarine cable. Carl Northrop founded the Washington DC boutique and continues to handle complex transactional work such as the acquisition of licenses and equipment and related financing, and works alongside Michael Lazarus who manages the team, working with the firm’s most high-profile clients for their transactional mandates for their ongoing operations.