Areas of Practice
Business Litigation; Cable Communications; Cable Franchising, Renewals, and Transfers; Cable Regulatory Compliance; Cable Overbuilds; Copyright; Digital Rights Management; Land Use Management; Telecommunications; Unfair Competition
Representative Experience
Provides commercial litigation and regulatory services and advice to communications, multi-media and entertainment companies
Regularly litigates before state and federal courts and has actively participated in several trials and arbitrations
Represents cable television companies in franchise compliance, renewal, transfer and modification proceedings
Represents wireless communications companies in facilities deployment and land use issues, including litigation before federal and state courts
Represents cable television companies in franchise fee audits, technical audits, PEG audits and utility user tax audits
Represents communication companies in litigation concerning access to easements and inside wiring disputes
Negotiates access to easement agreements and service and distribution agreements on behalf of communications companies
Represents communications and media companies in litigation over issues concerning breach of contract, fraud, unfair competition, federal preemption, consumer credit, and torts
Represents communications companies in obtaining license approvals from the California Public Utilities Commission
Provides advice to multi-media companies on copyright and digital rights management issues
Successfully defended against $3 million claim brought by landlord and obtained monetary judgment in favor of telecommunications company after an eight day trial on a commercial lease dispute
Deposed numerous mayors and other city managers regarding cities’ denials of franchise transfers in bankruptcy action filed by major cable television operator
Successfully defended against motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction brought by a city to prevent transfer of cable television franchise. Case was ultimately voluntarily dismissed by city
Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of cable company in arbitration over multi-million dollar franchise fee dispute with city
Represented cable television association in briefing issues for California Attorney General Opinions on matters affecting cable television companies
Represented major motion picture company in $500 million arbitration against major studio executive
Represented major motion picture company in obtaining dismissal sanctions in litigation against a production company; deposed production company executives in London, England
Prior Experience
Partner, Cole, Raywid & Braverman LLP,
2005-2006; Associate, 2000-2004
Associate, Troop, Steuber, Pasich, Reddick & Tobey, LLP, 1995-1999
Law clerk, Honorable Moody R. Tidwell, United States Court of Federal Claims, Washington, D.C., 1993-1995
Economist, U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Washington, D.C., 1988-1990
Publications and Presentations
Co-author, "Cable/Video Franchising," PLI Cable Television Law Update, 2007
Faculty presenter on video franchising issues at PLI Cable Television Law Conference, 2007
Speaker, “Telecommunications Issues in Real Estate,” LSI Seminar, Oct. 28, 2004
Panelist, NATOA National Conference on cable television transfers, September 2004
Author, “Munitoons: The Folly of Municipal Ownership of Broadband Facilities,” presented at LSI Seminar, Nov. 21, 2003
Memberships and Activities
Frequently attends and participates in activities with the California Cable and Telecommunications Association, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, and the Federal Communications Bar Association
State Bar of California
Maryland State Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
California Federal District Courts
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Education
J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 1993
B.S./B.A in Economics/Chemistry, University of Delaware, 1987
- Completed Honors Program
- Selected to Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society in Economics
