O'Melveny's Telecommunications Practice serves a large and varied group of clients in the United States and abroad. Comprehensive regulatory and policy experience, a deep appreciation for business objectives, and hard-fought experience with the dynamic between technological developments and unfolding business opportunities characterize our approach to the representation of telecommunications interests.
We have enjoyed the opportunity to serve as outside counsel to two of the largest telecommunications companies in the world - Qwest and Verizon. We represent a major European telecommunications company with respect to its investments in competitive telecommunications markets throughout the world. Consistent with our reputation as one of the country’s premier law firms representing banks and other financial institutions, we counsel some of the largest banks, venture capitalists and investment funds regarding their investments in telecommunications companies. We also represent leading diversified equipment manufacturers.
Our practice is built around bridging the gap between traditional legal disciplines, such as corporate, finance, labor, securities, tax, mergers and acquisitions, antitrust, patent and trademark, and makes full use of the comprehensive, multi-disciplinary legal representation available at our firm to develop sophisticated insights into the various industry sectors.
Key Facts
- We have substantial experience in the emerging and competitive carrier markets, representing more than 20 competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) and more than 50 long distance carriers, including dozens of emerging global carriers that have sought to enter the US market.
- We provide regulatory advice and corporate counsel to many enhanced service providers, debit card carriers, video operators, collocation providers, wireless carriers and spectrum users, satellite interests, GPS providers, undersea cable companies, and voice over Internet protocol carriers. We also represent various Internet companies, including Internet infrastructure providers (whom we advise on peering arrangements), large institutional users with complicated communications needs, and in-building CLECs and real estate interests striving to provide tenants with advanced communications facilities.
- Domestically, we represent these clients before the FCC as well as before all 50 states' public utility commissions (PUCs) on policy issues, and on licensing and certification matters. Internationally, we represent carriers before the European Commission and individual country regulatory authorities.
- We litigate disputes between carriers, and act as class action counsel to telecommunications carriers with billions of dollars of market capitalization at stake. Importantly, we advise clients both on how to avoid litigation and how litigation relates to strategic business goals.
- We have particular experience in structuring joint ventures and alliances between telecommunications companies in the United States, Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa.
- We have provided experience to governments and private entities with regard to the privatization of 11 South American and African national telecommunications systems. We represent a major telecommunications company in its trade dispute with the government of Mexico, relating to entry barriers into the Mexican telecommunications markets. We also represent clients expanding from their US base into foreign markets, as well as non-US interests entering the US Market.
Practice Strengths
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Common Carrier Services
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Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances
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Project Development