Laura Phillips

I fell hard for telecommunications when I started working as a paralegal at a telecom law boutique after college and encountered fascinating terms like local exchange competition, private carriage on satellite transponders, harmful interference, spectrum efficiency, reasonable interconnection and universal service — and I never looked back. I worked my way through law school at night and was fortunate to work at the NTIA in my final year of law school.  I had phenomenal training and mentoring as an associate, and as member at Dow Lohnes & Albertson.  I later joined the communications practice at Drinker Biddle & Reath.  There, I was able to mix a challenging law practice with participation in the Federal Communications Bar Association, where I was on the Executive Committee and FCBA president, among other FCBA committee roles.  I am grateful that I continue to encounter a wide range of the talented FCBA members through a monthly column I started in the newsletter as FCBA president. 

 

I apply my years of experience and extensive knowledge of the telecommunications industry and its regulation to advise entrepreneurs on opportunities and challenges related to constantly evolving communications technologies. I have spent much time and attention on spectrum policies, including licensing and the means to effectuate effective transitions in spectrum allocations and uses. I also focus on the development of broadband infrastructure and the offering of broadband services, as well as telecommunications universal service and universal access matters.

 

I counsel clients on a range of regulatory matters including Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) compliance strategies, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license transfers and assignments in commercial transactions. I am experienced in building successful policy advocacy and in counseling clients during FCC audits, investigations and enforcement actions.  I engage in advocacy to advance a clients goals.

 

I'm a former chair of the Drinker Biddle & Reath government and regulatory affairs group, where I managed many professionals operating in a range of regulatory specialty areas.  My goal was to ensure that the teams functioned seamlessly together when clients needed a range of experiences to get results.  I've also consistently been ranked by Chambers USA in the area of Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite in the District of Columbia since 2009.

 

In my spare time, I enjoy playing acoustic guitar, I practice ashtanga and other forms of yoga and love cooking, drinking good wine with friends and family and of course, travel.