Latham’s interdisciplinary communications team advises many of the world’s leading providers of communications services, including broadband internet access providers, cable operators and content providers, mobile and fixed telecommunications carriers, and satellite companies, as well as investors and lenders, on the full spectrum of regulatory, litigation, and transactional matters that are shaping the industry.
Drawing on deep experience working across sectors, before major trial and appellate courts and regulatory bodies, and in markets around the globe, we provide clients unparalleled insight and practical counsel on their toughest matters. Our industry and government experience allows us to help clients see around regulatory and market corners and meet their strategic goals. With globe-spanning capabilities across the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, we can effectively counsel clients on communications matters virtually anywhere in the world.
Litigation & Disputes
Our communications litigators bring extensive experience winning complex, high-stakes, and cross-border disputes. We regularly resolve matters at trial, on appeal, and through domestic and international arbitration, including appeals of regulatory decisions, complex commercial disputes, IP litigation, and government investigations.
Regulatory
The communications team includes former government regulators and policymakers, and lawyers who focus on emerging regulatory issues. We work seamlessly as one global team with regulatory capabilities in most major jurisdictions to deliver insights and workable solutions to the most complex regulatory issues. Much of our communications work centers on the regulatory rules that apply to broadband internet access. Our lawyers serve as the leading advocates for these companies in front of the FCC, Congress, and other state legislatures on “open Internet” or “net neutrality” rules, which have significant implications for the telecommunications industry and broader Internet ecosystem. We routinely assist with regulatory compliance strategies, antitrust analysis, spectrum strategies, privacy regulations, and matters before US, EU, and other global regulators.
Transactions
Our communications-focused transactional team provides a sophisticated understanding of market practice, strong relationships with leading venture capital and private equity firms, and a seasoned commercial approach to transactions. We routinely advise on deals across the full range of voice and data telecommunications network technology and services, including those involving WAN, LAN, Multiprotocol Label Switching, Wavelength Division Multiplexing, IP Telephony, voice, wireless, voice recording, mobile (voice and data), and audio/video conferencing services. We also have extensive experience with content-related transactions, cloud services, data centers, towers, and other communications infrastructure.
Our transactional advice is comprehensive, global, and exceptional. We regularly advise on the creation of new telecom and internet-based businesses; negotiate commercial, IP licensing, and outsourcing agreements; and execute major M&A, joint venture, and capital markets transactions. Our team leverages Latham’s global platform to tailor practical, business-oriented solutions that directly address our clients’ most pressing communications needs.
Latham & Watkins' Communications Law Practice is broadly based in transactional, regulatory and litigation experience, enhanced by a deep knowledge of the communications sector.
