Approach
The communications industry is subject to intense competition, stringent government regulation and the many challenges that accompany quickly evolving technologies. Your Firm's Communications Practice Group provides clear legal guidance within each communications segment and also offers deep insight regarding new issues in communications law associated with convergence.
Attorneys
The attorneys in our communication group have extensive experience in all facets of technology and business law, enabling us to meet the specific needs of each communications segment.
Clients
We represent clients across the entire field of communications, including telecommunications, broadcast and print media, publishing, film and video production, including multimedia, computer technology and integrated systems.
Practice
The Communications Practice Group serves clients in the following areas:
Broadcasting and Print Media
Our service to broadcast and print media clients includes acquisitions, mergers and other dispositions. We work closely with our clients' newsroom operations on First Amendment rights, defamation, open records and meetings, privacy and related issues. We regularly provide pre-broadcast and pre-publication advice to help news directors, editors and reporters avoid unnecessary litigation and gain access to newsworthy material. When litigation cannot be avoided, however, we bring to bear a sophisticated and experienced litigation team.
Computers and Information Systems
We provide services to computer manufacturers, software developers and users of both standard and custom products. Our attorneys draft and negotiate agreements for the lease or purchase of hardware, software and integrated systems. We also provide counseling and litigation in connection with software licensing, copyright, patent and trademark issues.
The combined skills of our communications and employment relations attorneys assist employers in developing information system policies to protect themselves against liability caused by employees' potential misuse of information technology such as electronic mail, voice mail, local and wide-area networks and the Internet.
Film and Video Production
We are active in many aspects of motion picture and video production, representing both investors and production companies in structuring financing and other aspects of motion picture production, and we are also active in negotiating distribution terms for completed motion pictures.
Telecomunications
In the area of telecommunications, our firm has worked with telecommunication providers, including wireless PCS providers, common carriers and resellers on a variety of build-out, business and regulatory matters that require appearances before and dealings with state regulatory and local government bodies.
General Business Issues
Much of our work for communications industry clients involves general business counseling on issues such as commercial transactions and financing, tax planning, real estate, intellectual property, labor and employment matters, litigation, antitrust law and environmental law. These services are in addition to the counsel we offer in issues specific to communications law.