Law360’s 2021 Telecommunications Editorial Advisory Board

Law360 (April 19, 2021, 6:19 PM EDT) — Law360 is pleased to announce the formation of its 2021 Telecommunications Editorial Advisory Board.

The editorial advisory board provides feedback on Law360’s coverage and expert insight on how best to shape future coverage.

The members of Law360’s 2021 Telecommunications Editorial Advisory Board are:

Steve Augustino, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Steve Augustino is chair of Kelley Drye’s communications practice. His practice ranges from regulatory, legislative and administrative law counsel to transactional advice, advocacy and litigation. For over 25 years, Augustino has guided clients through the shifting policies, exponential growth and extraordinary innovation in the telecommunications industry.

Thomas C. Blatchley, Gordon & Rees LLP
Tom Blatchley is a partner who represents a variety of clients in nationwide complex litigation. His practice focuses on litigation matters concerning commercial disputes, employment practices liability, and consumer defense. Blatchley frequently defends class claims arising under consumer protection statutes including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Lauren Coppola, Robins Kaplan LLP
Lauren Coppola is a partner at Robins Kaplan LLP. An experienced commercial litigator practicing in telecommunications and complex commercial disputes, Coppola advocates companies of all sizes. She makes it her top priority to deeply understand her client’s business operations and develops strategies designed to achieve her client’s unique business goals.

Tara M. Corvo, Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC
Member and Chair of Mintz’s technology, communications & media practice Tara M. Corvo represents cable, broadband and content providers, with a focus on the intersection of legislation and regulatory policy. She advises clients on ownership and approval issues in communications transactions and in disputes and enforcement proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission.

Ronald Del Sesto, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Ron Del Sesto represents technology companies on a broad range of issues including corporate, financial, regulatory and cybersecurity. He also advises financial institutions, private equity firms and venture capital funds with respect to investments in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors.

Douglas W. Dimitroff, Phillips Lytle LLP
Douglas W. Dimitroff, partner at Phillips Lytle LLP, has 25 years of experience representing leading telecommunications carriers, infrastructure providers and numerous other clients involved in the telecommunications industry. He is a member of the FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, as well as New York State Wireless Association co-founder.

Stephen Díaz Gavin, Rimon PC
Stephen Díaz Gavin has been a partner at Rimon PC since 2016, working from the firm’s Washington, D.C. office but residing in Europe. For nearly 40 years, he has worked on numerous litigation, enforcement and policy advocacy matters for a broad range of telecommunications clients.

Anna Gomez, Wiley Rein LLP
Wiley partner Anna Gomez, former National Telecommunications and Information Administration deputy administrator, focuses on spectrum licensing issues and regulatory, policy, and transactional matters related to telecommunications and unmanned aircraft systems. Gomez served for 12 years at the FCC and chairs the FCC’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment.

John Jett, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
John Jett focuses his practice on trial and arbitration for technology companies. Representing plaintiffs he has recovered tens of millions of dollars; representing defendants, he has defeated numerous major claims, often at the summary judgment or class certification stages.

Debra McGuire Mercer, Greenberg Traurig LLP
Debra McGuire Mercer is counsel at Greenberg Traurig in Washington, D.C. She advises communications, media and broadcast companies on compliance with the Communications Act, TCPA and state regulatory requirements. Her practice also focuses on FCC and state review of mergers and acquisitions, broadband deployment, spectrum licensing and equipment authorization.

Lee G. Petro, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Lee G. Petro is special counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. He assists broadcasters, wireless providers and consumer product companies as they navigate the intersection of technological and regulatory developments. Petro is a past president of the Federal Communications Bar Association, and also served as chair of the FCBA Foundation.

Michele Shuster, Mac Murray & Shuster LLP
Michele Shuster has a long history in telecommunications laws dating back to 2000, when she was Chief of the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section, and assisted with drafting Do-Not-Call laws. She is now general counsel for Professional Association for Customer Engagement and is actively involved in telecommunication issues involving the Federal Trade Commission, FCC, attorneys general and private litigation.

Edward “Smitty” Smith, DLA Piper
Edward “Smitty” Smith is a well-known and highly respected former FCC official. He focuses his practice on telecommunications matters and advises clients on the full range of issues in the wireless and satellite sectors, including spectrum policy, auctions, regulatory actions, equipment approvals, rulemakings and enforcement.