Attorney Concentrates in Representing Communications Companies
WASHINGTON, D.C. – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Noted attorney Andrew M. Klein has joined the Washington, DC, office of DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP as Of Counsel in its Government Affairs practice group, the law firm announces.
Mr. Klein represents communications companies, focusing particularly on local exchange carriers, in a variety of matters, including regulatory, interconnection, litigation, and homeland security issues. He assists clients in developing and advocating positions on issues that are local in nature but national in scope, and has particular experience in establishing coalitions of carriers to participate in multi-state proceedings, where one central strategy can be employed in multiple jurisdictions.
“We are pleased to welcome Andy to DLA Piper,” said Thomas F. O’Neil III, chair of the Government Affairs practice group. “His extensive experience representing companies before the Federal Communications Commission and state commissions across the country will serve our clients well as we continue to emphasize business-focused regulatory strategies and solutions in our engagements.”
Before coming to Washington, DC, in 2000, Mr. Klein served as Session Counsel to the New York Public Service Commission, reviewing and coordinating all session items presented for consideration in each of the industries that the commission regulates. As Session Counsel, Mr. Klein worked closely with the chairman of the commission to develop and implement policies to foster competition and ensure that all commission action was legal and consistent with PSC policy in such key areas as local exchange competition, broadband deployment, cable regulation, power plant siting, and energy deregulation.
Prior to being appointed Session Counsel, Mr. Klein led the review of Verizon’s compliance with the market-opening mandates of Section 271 of the Telecom Act of 1996, implementing policies to facilitate local exchange and broadband competition. He negotiated and drafted the Section 271 Pre-filing Statement, conducted fact-finding hearings, and was instrumental in the creation and development of the Verizon Post-271 Performance Assurance Plan.
Mr. Klein served as counsel to the PSC team reviewing the Bell Atlantic/NYNEX merger, representing agency staff in the hearing, briefing, and negotiation stages. He also analyzed interconnection agreement disputes, served as counsel to Universal Service “E-rate” team, and coordinated Telecom Act implementation with attorneys at the FCC, U.S. Department of Justice, and other state commissions.. Mr. Klein now participates in proceedings before state public utility commissions, the Federal Communications Commission, and courts, provides advice to clients on strategic planning and policy issues, and negotiates and arbitrates interconnection agreements and amendments for wireline and wireless carriers. He has participated in key policymaking proceedings addressing such matters as access to unbundled network elements, intercarrier compensation and VoIP, Section 271 compliance, and performance assurance.
At conferences and regulatory conventions across the United States Mr. Klein has presented numerous seminars and talks addressing the keys to New York’s success in leading the country in telecom competition, the structure of the Performance Assurance Plan, the negotiation of interconnection agreements, and other significant policy issues.
###
About DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP
DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP is a business law firm of 1,350 lawyers in offices throughout the US, whose core practices are corporate and securities, litigation, real estate, intellectual property and government affairs. Worldwide, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary has 2,800 lawyers in 49 offices in 18 countries, including the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and Asia, offering leading practices in commercial, corporate and finance, human resources, litigation, real estate, regulatory and legislative, and technology, media and communications.
