Richard E. Wiley Receives American Lawyer’s Lifetime Achiever Award

The American Lawyer has selected Wiley Rein Chairman Richard E. Wiley to receive a prestigious 2012 Lifetime Achiever Award.  Mr. Wiley’s extraordinary career is profiled in the magazine’s September 2012 issue, along with a select group of lawyers “whose contributions to law and to society have made significant positive impacts.”  The American Lawyer editor in chief Robin Sparkman said in a statement that “our 2012 class of Lifetime Achievers boasts extraordinary professional success and a true dedication to public service.” 

Among the many highlights of his career, Mr. Wiley was recognized for his high-profile government service as FCC Chairman and his leadership organizing a “Grand Alliance” in the development of the nation’s standard for high-definition television (HDTV), which placed the United States on the cutting-edge of the world stage for this technology.  He was cited for building the firm he co-founded into one of most influential law firms in the Capital, which according to the publication places Wiley Rein firmly in the “top echelon of Washington firms.”  As lead counsel for industry giants, Mr. Wiley has “worked on some of the telecommunications industry’s biggest deals” in the past decade, securing FCC regulatory approval for these bet-the-company transactions.

As a testament to Wiley’s influence in the industry, his colleagues have lauded his legal and business acumen with such high praise as: “Wiley’s name is still magic” at the FCC and “all companies want Dick Wiley as their lawyer.” 

A black-tie gala will be held October 24, 2012, in New York City to recognize this year’s eight “Lifetime Achiever” honorees.