Telecommunications Practice

We assist the telecom industry in all aspects of clients’ development, ongoing operations, and, when necessary, disputes. Hodgson Russ clients include international and domestic carriers, site owners and managers, broadcasters, fiber-optic companies, cable companies, rechargeable calling card distributors, equipment manufacturers, and others in the telecom industry.

Litigation, Arbitration, and Enforcement Actions

We have deep experience representing telecom clients in litigation, dispute resolution, mediation, and domestic & international arbitration. When litigation is unavoidable, we leverage our extensive, successful background in litigating a wide variety of telecom cases in state and federal courts nationwide, at both the trial and appellate levels, and with state and federal regulatory matters and enforcement proceedings, including Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proceedings.

State and Federal Court Actions

We routinely represent our clients in federal and state court actions throughout the United States in various disputes, including class actions, involving international and domestic carriers, cellular phone companies, rechargeable calling card companies, and other clients in the telecom industry.

Arbitrations and Complaint Proceedings

We have successfully represented numerous clients in domestic and international arbitration proceedings, including proceedings before the AAA, JAMS, ICC, and the LCIA.

Carrier Contracts

We negotiate and draft all types of telecom contracts, including bi-lateral interconnection agreements with domestic and international carriers.

International Matters

Hodgson Russ advises a wide range of foreign and domestic companies on the U.S. legal aspects of international transactions, including companies and transactions involving Canada, India, Italy, France, Singapore, and China.

Enforcement and Compliance Proceedings

We represent clients before the FCC, various state public service commissions, and the Federal Trade Commission on various issues, including advertising, disclosure, marketing practices, and more.

State and Federal TAX and Regulatory Proceedings

We assist clients with disputes concerning various state and federal taxing authorities. We also assist clients in obtaining various state and federal authorizations to provide domestic and international cable, wireless, and resale-based telecommunications services. We also assist domestic and foreign companies in obtaining common carrier service authorizations.

Internet and Emerging Growth Companies

We represent various established and start-up companies with internet and e-commerce issues, including privacy, data, and intellectual property protection, cyber piracy, and intellectual property agreements.

Corporate, Financial, and Real Estate Transactions

Hodgson Russ provides corporate, finance, securities, domestic and international tax, environmental, real estate, and regulatory services for telecom clients. Our firm has served as lead counsel to telecom companies in all phases of development and construction, including:

Compliance with environmental regulations, state and federal environmental review, and historic preservation
Contamination issues
Leasing
Municipal approval procedures, from zoning and obtaining building permits to complex multijurisdictional reviews of tower facilities
Obtaining title
Site selection
Zoning and land use

We also serve clients on issues arising after construction is complete, including:

Audits, from sales and use taxes to corporate income and franchise taxes
Corporate acquisitions, financing, due diligence, preparation of offering statements, and regulatory submissions
Drafting all necessary agreements, including carrier agreements
Multistate and international cross-border tax issues
Providing general corporate and business advice
Sales issues
Tax assessment challenges before administrative and judicial forums
Transaction structures to minimize tax liabilities while maximizing tax credits and other incentives

Strategic Advice

We offer our clients assistance in drafting and implementing strategic business plans to ensure that they make informed business decisions concerning relevant legal and regulatory issues and to help minimize areas of potential risk.