2010 Legal 500 US Rates Wiley Rein's Telecom Group among the Nation's Best

June 18, 2010

Wiley Rein's prominent Telecommunications Practice is again rated among the nation's top-tier Telecom and Broadcast Regulatory groups in the 2010 edition of Legal 500 US, which singles out "dean of the communications bar" Richard E. Wiley and Telecom Practice chair R. Michael Senkowski as "leading lawyers" in their field.  Reflecting the depth of the group, accolades extend to partners Andrew G. McBride, Helgi C. Walker and Nancy J. Victory, as well as "big-name hires" Ambassador David A. Gross, former U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, and William S. Consovoy, who returned to the firm upon completion of a his clerkship for Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Ranking the practice among the country's best, Legal 500 says:

Clients consider Wiley Rein LLP's market-leading telecoms team 'by far the best firm for FCC matters,' with its 80-strong communications team handling regulatory and appellate work as well as big ticket transactions providing 'in-depth knowledge and expertise in the broadcast regulatory arena.' The integration of regulatory and public policy has been the cornerstone of the team's structure; matched by only a few communications boutiques, which are unable to match the firm's level of resources. By virtue of superior numbers of experts and a blend of attorneys with backgrounds at the commission and young talent, the team has maintained its capabilities to address issues from every corner of the communications world, and is praised by clients as 'very responsive to our needs and very capable without exception.'

Flagship clients in each sector are able to retain teams of specialists, lawyers with decades of FCC dealings and ancillary litigation and appellate expertise and value the firm's capacity 'to put together exactly the right people.' The team has consistently won mandates as regulatory counsel on high-profile mergers, advising Sirius Satellite Radio in its $3.5bn acquisition of XM Satellite Radio, an industry-defining transaction by virtue of its value and the market position of the parties involved. On the telecom side, the team is frequently the first stop for carriers on FCC matters.

Clients and peers commend several members of the group for their range of expertise.  Managing Partner and former FCC chairman Richard Wiley-recently named by The National Law Journal as one of "The Decade's Most Influential Lawyers"-is "recognized throughout the industry as 'the outstanding figure in telecommunications law.'"  Michael Senkowski, head of the firm's Telecom Group, is acknowledged for providing "unbeatable guidance on FCC issues" and former Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and "Rising Star" Nancy Victory is named as the 'first choice' for spectrum-related matters.

Representative of Wiley Rein's prominent appellate work on behalf of the communications industry, Andrew McBride receives kudos for his victory "on behalf of a wireless industry defense group in the Murray v Motorola litigation regarding the alleged health effects of radio frequency emissions," while Helgi Walker-lead counsel in the successful challenge of the FCC's first net neutrality decision on behalf of Comcast Corporation-is praised for her "strength in both the disputes and the regulatory arena."

The Legal 500 directories aim to provide independent, unbiased commentary on the leading law firms-and lawyers-in the most important legal marketplace in the world.  Research is based on the combined opinions of the many lawyers interviewed in each practice area, commentary from corporate clients and additional analysis.

View the full Legal 500 editorial.