DLA Piper LLP (US)

With ‘incredible depth and broad experience in the telecoms space’, DLA Piper LLP (US) recently announced the establishment of a global regulatory practice for telecoms and tech. Primarily based in Washington DC, the telecoms team includes a number of regulatory experts with federal government experience. The firm boasts a space exploration and innovation group; the team continues to increase its focus on space and satellite mandates, advising on new innovations in the sector, as well as radio spectrum allocations for space and earth stations. Nancy Victory and Michael Senkowski co-head both the US telecom group and the firm’s global telecoms practice, recently acting as lead regulatory counsels for T-Mobile in its sector-significant merger with Sprint. Peter Karanjia leads the administrative law appellate team, bolstering the practice’s full-service offering. Eric DeSilva offers both regulatory and transactional advice on wireless matters, while Tony Lin advises start-ups, satellite companies and defense contractors on spectrum and other regulatory approvals. San Francisco-based Kristin Jacobson handles communications regulatory, compliance, policy and transactional matters for clients, including telecoms and broadband service providers. Peter Shroyer brings FCC experience, including in enforcement proceedings and advocacy filings, while, in Seattle, Ariel Diamond West advises clients such as global software and communications companies on FCC and CPUC matters. Edward “Smitty” Smith left the firm in December 2023.

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'The satellite licensing practice at DLA is top notch. Their expertise in all the complex regulatory licensing regimes for Earth observation satellites, from FCC to NOAA and ITU is deep and their guidance practical. Tony Lin and Emma Marion are great. They are very responsive, easy to schedule when quick-turn advice is needed and provide practical and succinct guidance. Zach Rosenbaum is also an excellent advisor, well-versed in translating technical engineering to regulatory speak and vice versa. His expertise in ITU licensing practice and procedure are also incredibly helpful.'
'DLA's telecom practice is differentiated by their deep knowledge and innovative approach to problems. They also have the experience with the various industry players to know what approaches are most likely to succeed. Kristin Jacobson's years of knowledge and sound strategy advice has been a huge win for us. We have succeeded in building connections and influencing industry policy based on her guidance and input.'
'Our DLA team is experienced, motivated, and truly a partner in our efforts. They understand the niche of our industry and work to make sure our audience has a thorough understanding of our message. Our attorney has a deep background in infrastructure deployment and brings technical understanding as well as her legal experience to the table. It is refreshing to have a team that needs little instruction in this area. I have worked with more than a handful of legal expertise over my career and DLA Piper is definitely in our top choices for legal expertise.'
'We work with Kristin Jacobsen. She has proven to be knowledgeable, motivated, dependable and patient. Kristin has a deep background in the industry from early "boots on the ground" roles to her current position as a legal expert in her field. I was excited to bring DLA Piper to our company because of Kristin. Secondly, I would like to mention Ariel Diamond West. She was a delight to work with. Smart, organized, easy to work with.'
'Based on my experience, the team has incredible depth and broad experience in the telecom space, including on mergers, investigations, and more routine regulatory matters. They are outstanding on spectrum policy and strategy as well, including top tier advice on navigating government agencies and political issues.'
'Mike Senkowski and Nancy Victory are the two partners with whom I work the most, and both are outstanding. As general counsel, my exposure to the day-to-day is more limited, but my team works extensively with the DLA team and considers them at the very top of the top tier telecom practices.'
'The DLA team has a deep bench of highly experienced legal and technical experts and a unique ability to work across the disciplines to provide the most effective representation. The DLA Team is very responsive and easy to work with. They work closely with clients and quickly become trusted advisors that provide important insights, views and creative approaches. In particular, Nancy Victory and Mike Senkowski provide outstanding guidance and support for legal and regulatory strategy. Eric DeSilva has a unique ability to analysis data to support a regulatory or transaction goal.'
'This practice group has a deep, historical understanding of how our business works and how it continues to develop. This helps the group provide practical advice that keeps in mind how our executives think through regulatory matters. Nancy Victory is an outstanding advocate and thought leader in the telecom regulatory space. Nancy provides very tactical advice that helps our business navigate a complex (and often uncertain) regulatory environment, particularly when there are multiple agencies or stakeholders interested in a particular matter or transaction.'

Key clients

T-Mobile US, Inc.
Deutsche Telekom AG
CTIA—The Wireless Association
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
Globalstar, LLC
NetChoice
LS Networks
Planet Labs PBC
Hawkeye 360, Inc.
Momentus, Inc.
Sonic Telecom, LLC

Work highlights

Represented T-Mobile in selling the Sprint wireline business to Cogent Communications, which T-Mobile gained as part of its acquisition of Sprint.
Representing Globalstar in its international efforts to obtain satellite and terrestrial authorizations and use its spectrum to offer new TD-LTE services in multiple jurisdictions worldwide.
Representing T-Mobile in multiple related matters, including a pending California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) investigation and multiple lawsuits, arising out of the October 2020 Silverado Canyon Fire in Orange County, California.

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