Ari Fitzgerald > Hogan Lovells US LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Hogan Lovells US LLP
COLUMBIA SQUARE
555 THIRTEENTH STREET, NW
WASHINGTON DC 20004
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States

Work Department

Global Regulatory

Position

Partner

Career

Ari Fitzgerald provides strategic, legal, and policy advice on a wide range of communications and spectrum policy issues to some of the world’s largest and most dynamic communications network operators and equipment manufacturers, as well as a diverse assortment of industry trade associations and investors. He especially enjoys helping automobile manufacturers, medical device suppliers, consumer electronics device makers, and other technology companies bring new and innovative communications-related products and services to market.

Ari had a distinguished career in government before joining Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells) as a partner in 2001. He was a legal advisor to former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Bill Kennard, as well as deputy chief of the FCC’s International Bureau. He also served as a legal advisor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, where he advised the White House, executive branch agencies, and the U.S. attorney general on constitutional and federal statutory interpretation matters.

Ari started his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable H. Lee Sarokin, U.S. district judge, and worked for several years after his judicial clerkship as legal counsel to former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley. Ari worked as a financial analyst in the corporate finance department of the global investment bank First Boston Corporation before entering law school.

Today, Ari serves on the board of directors of Crown Castle International, a large, publicly owned operator of towers and other communications infrastructure, and on the advisory board of several private technology companies and policy advocacy organizations. He also serves on the board of several nonprofit entities, including as vice president of the Yale Law School Alumni Executive Committee, secretary of the Multicultural Media and Telecommunications Council, president of the Duke Ellington Fund, and as an advisory board member of Catholic Charities Legal Network.

Languages

English, Spanish

Memberships

Board of Directors, Crown Castle International
President, Duke Ellington Fund
Vice President, Yale Law School Alumni Executive Committee
Federal Communications Bar Association
Advisory Committee, Mobile Future
Advisory Committee, Spectrum Bridge

Education

J.D., Yale Law School, 1990
Henry Luce Scholar, 1985
A.B., Harvard College, magna cum laude, 1984

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory

(Leading partners)

Ari Fitzgerald Hogan Lovells US LLP

Based in Washington DC, Hogan Lovells US LLP‘s team harnesses particular expertise in the space and satellite sector. The team assists its reputable clients with complex regulatory matters including spectrum auctions, licensing and allocation issues. Ari Fitzgerald leads the team and provides advice on business-critical regulatory and transactional matters. Michele Farquhar’s FCC background enables her to provide complex regulatory advice; Farquhar advises high-profile international clients on strategic regulatory matters. Mark Brennan handles regulatory consultations, compliance and government investigations and enforcement matters. North Virginia-based Randy Segal is uniquely placed to undertake the full range of matters for space and satellite operators, investors and tech providers. Steven Kaufman undertakes mandates for investors in NewSpace transactions, while Alexis Sáinz is also well-reputed within the satellite industry and specializes in advising on local regulatory requirements, cross-border commercial agreements and international governmental negotiations. Katy Milner has significant capabilities in emerging tech. John Castle and George John are also recommended. All mentioned attorneys bar Segal are based at the DC office.

United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactions

Hogan Lovells US LLP‘s practice is well-equipped to handle the wide range of transactional matters from joint ventures to M&A transactions, with noteworthy capabilities within the space and satellite industry. Steven Kaufman and Alexis Sáinz co-lead the predominantly Washington DC-based team that office; Kaufman has a wealth of experience in strategic joint ventures and M&A transactions, while Sáinz is adept at handling complex agreements within the space sector, particularly between private space companies and government agencies. At the same office, Ari Fitzgerald‘s workload includes advising prominent communications network operators, equipment manufacturers, industry trade associations and investors on communications and spectrum policy issues in particular. Michele Farquhar brings extensive FCC experience, offering advice on M&A, spectrum auctions and licensing matters. Mark Brennan has tech and telecoms expertise and is a key member of the firm’s AI working group. Both are also based in DC. Randy Segal is the team’s North Virginia-based co-head and has a specialism in the space and satellite sector, offering transactional and regulatory support to industry operators, investors and tech providers.