Eric DeSilva > DLA Piper LLP (US) > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Operating out of Washington DC, DLA Piper LLP (US) maintains an eminent market position through a combination of a strong state regulatory practice, particularly before the CPUC but also appearing in state forums more broadly; an expert engineering practice, employing the industry insights of experienced engineers in regulatory work in cutting-edge telecoms technology; and access to the broader firm’s global resources, leveraging them in cases of foreign ownership and matters of international scope. Satellite, space, and national security are also major and growing areas of activity for the team, with the wider firm’s global satellite practice operating from the DC practice. Co-lead Michael Senkowski is prominent in the telecoms regulatory space, working across satellite, telephony, and spectrum; he is also working alongside co-lead Nancy Victory on the ongoing integration and compliance issues of the T-Mobile merger with Sprint, Victory bringing her experience working with major carriers on the regulatory aspects of M&A, foreign ownership, and enforcement matters. Other lawyers of note include Eric DeSilva, whose focus on wireless cuts across policy, spectrum work, and cutting-edge issues in 5G and private LTE; Edward Smith, who is highly active in the wireless and satellite sectors, and coordinates the firm’s global efforts in regulatory work; Peter Karanjia, who brings his expertise in administrative litigation to telecoms and technology; Tony Lin, who specializes in securing licenses for novel space-based services; and Kristin Jacobson, whose experience practicing before the CPUC and other state utility commissions is of value to clients operating on the West Coast.

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.