Greenberg Traurig, P.A. - Group Profile for Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Technology, Media & Telecommunications Return to Practice Areas & Industries

Group Profile

Practice/Industry Group Overview

In the last decade, rapid advances in technology have resulted in fundamental – and often disruptive – changes to the business models of virtually all companies in the media, entertainment and telecommunications industries. Indeed, the convergence of various technologies and devices has had a profound impact on the way that businesses of all types operate. Greenberg Traurig’s unique combination of robust international media and entertainment resources and years of experience working on the cutting edge of the technologies that brought about these changes, has positioned the firm to guide companies dealing with the new realities of today’s global business environment.

Greenberg Traurig advises multinational technology, telecommunications, Internet and media companies on the critical legal issues they face in the midst of sweeping technological change. We regularly represent clients in transactions and disputes relating to the procurement, sale, development and protection of their products and services. Our attorneys also advise established companies in various industries wanting to develop new ways of doing business, as well as global, national and regional public and private authorities seeking to procure new information and communications technology products and services.

Services Available

Technology and E-Commerce

Serve companies internationally and domestically in Internet, software, semiconductors, networking, wireless, computers and peripherals, and related industries
Advise large companies in a variety of industries that are significant purchasers of technology products and services
Counsel clients on hardware and software systems acquisitions
Advise companies on data center and business process outsourcing arrangements
Structure and negotiate strategic alliances and OEM, VAR and dealer agreements
Provide IP counsel, encompassing software and business method patents; technology and content licensing; trademark selection, registration and maintenance; copyright registration and protection strategies; and IP audits
Advise on online commercial ventures, marketing and promotion law compliance, electronic publishing and taxation of online activity
Represent clients in supplier/distributor, domain name, trademark and other technology-related disputes
Represent a broad range of stakeholders in Internet law and e-commerce, including governments, Internet publishers, e-commerce sites and companies developing digital technologies and business models for the future
Draft IT-related legislation

Media

Negotiate agreements for distribution of video programming via broadcast, cable, satellite and other broadband technologies
Counsel clients on production, acquisition and financing of film and television programming
Negotiate and structure radio station, cable network and broadcast station acquisitions and financings
Advise on creating, operating and financing media and entertainment businesses
Counsel clients on FCC licensing, franchising and other regulatory compliance matters
Negotiate artist and producer recording agreements
Advise on Internet-based entertainment ventures
Provide IP counsel and related corporate and securities advice

Telecommunications

Represent both emerging and established companies in their efforts to compete with incumbent telecommunications operators, domestically and internationally
Assist governments around the world in the privatization of their telecommunications systems
Negotiate, structure and document transactions involving the procurement of telecommunications products and services for a wide range of companies
Represent clients before the FCC, other federal departments and agencies, state regulatory commissions, trial and appellate courts, and international regulatory authorities
Counsel clients on the Telecommunications Act of 1996, World Trade Organization Agreement on Basic Telecommunications Services and other compliance issues
Represent clients in inter-carrier partnering and interconnection negotiations, arbitrations and agreements
Advise on broadband deployment strategies, Internet services and facility issues
Counsel on tariffs, rates and telecommunications tax issues
Represent clients in telecommunications workouts, restructuring and bankruptcies

Past Seminar Materials

PLI "Information Technology Law Institute 2009", San Francisco, California, April 2, 2009
PLI "Information Technology Law Institute 2009", New York, New York, March 5, 2009
NXTcomm08 Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 16, 2008

Articles Authored by Lawyers at this office:

IRS Issues Additional Guidance Regarding its Short-Term Reduced Penalty Program for Voluntary Disclosures of Offshore Activities
Scott E. Fink, Barbara T. Kaplan, May 29, 2009
On May 6, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) posted answers to 30 frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding the recent guidance it issued to its examination personnel about voluntary disclosure requests of undisclosed foreign accounts and undisclosed foreign holdings.

New York State Now Taxes Non-Resident's Gain from Sale of Interests in an Entity that Holds New York Real Property
David W. Bunning, Ivy J. Lapides, May 22, 2009
Until recently, a non-resident1 of New York generally was not subject to New York State income tax if the non-resident sold an interest in a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership.

Administration Proposals to Increase U.S. Taxation of Foreign Income
Richard M. Petkun, Kenneth Zuckerbrot, May 15, 2009
This morning, the Obama administration announced a set of proposals designed to increase substantially the U.S. tax burden on American businesses with foreign operations.

Holders of Carried Interests Face Higher Taxes
Gary M. Epstein, Harry J. Friedman, Daniel D. Gordon, E. Paul Quinn, May 15, 2009
President Obama's budget plans are set to affect the treatment of carried interest in the United States.

New Tax Benefits in California Economic Stimulus Package Provide Incentives to Retain or Hire California Workers
Norman H. Lane, May 15, 2009
As part of the economic stimulus package in the state budget bills passed in late February 2009, the California legislature enacted several legislative changes creating significant tax incentives for businesses to retain or hire California workers.

New York Replenishes Fund for 30 Percent Tax Credit on Qualified Film Productions Completed in 2009
David W. Bunning, Marc Jacobson, May 15, 2009
In early 2008, New York State allocated $515 million for tax credits to be applied for qualified film production expenditures, in connection with the tripling of the available tax credit from 10 to 30 percent.

Connecticut Offers Taxpayers a Short-Term Tax Amnesty Program
Scott E. Fink, Barbara T. Kaplan, April 08, 2009
In an effort to raise revenue, the State of Connecticut has implemented a new tax amnesty program for eligible Connecticut taxpayers that report and pay their Connecticut taxes due before the expiration of the program.

IRS Announces a Reduced Penalty Structure for Voluntary Disclosure Requests Involving Offshore Accounts
Scott E. Fink, Barbara T. Kaplan, April 08, 2009
On March 23, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a new penalty framework which will limit the penalties asserted against taxpayers that voluntarily disclose their foreign entities and bank, brokerage and other financial accounts in an effort to encourage those taxpayers to come...

New Jersey to Offer a Brief Tax Amnesty
David W. Bunning, April 08, 2009
On March 17, New Jersey's Governor Corzine signed legislation authorizing a state tax amnesty.

IRS Guidance to Help Ponzi scheme Victims
Ivy J. Lapides, April 03, 2009
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Revenue Procedure 2009-20, which provides an optional safe harbor that "qualified investors" can use to deduct theft losses incurred in connection with a so-called Ponzi scheme.

New York Repeals Temporary Stay Exception for Income Tax
David W. Bunning, April 01, 2009
Late last year, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance ("Department") amended its regulations to delete the exception for temporary stays from the definition of residence for income tax purposes.

Charitable Endowments in Difficult Times: How Much Can Be Spent For Current Needs?
Harry J. Friedman, Tracy Green Landauer, March 30, 2009
The past year has seen a staggering drop in the value of stocks and other investments, losses as a result of Madoff-type investments, and decreasing results from fundraising.

The Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act: Indications of Future Changes in International Tax Landscape
Artem Fokin, Mary F. Voce, Kenneth Zuckerbrot, March 30, 2009
On March 2, 2009, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) introduced the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act in the Senate and Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives (together, the "Bill").

Holders of Carried Interests Face Higher Taxes
Gary M. Epstein, Harry J. Friedman, Daniel D. Gordon, E. Paul Quinn, March 23, 2009
The budget plan for fiscal 2010, introduced on February 26, 2009, includes among its revenue raisers a change in the tax treatment of "carried interests."

ALJ Opinions Affirm that No New York Income Tax is Due Where Employee Stock Options are exercised by a Non-Resident in a Year in Which No Days are Worked in New York
David W. Bunning, March 13, 2009
A previous GT Alert ("Refunds of New York State Income Tax May be Available Following Tax Appeals Tribunal Decision"), published in 2006, explained the holding of a case decided by the New York Tax Appeals Tribunal called Matter of Stuckless, DTA No. 819318 (August 17, 2006).

Business Tax Provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Harry J. Friedman, Marvin A. Kirsner, Kyle Post, March 13, 2009
On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

European Court of Justice Passes Breakthrough Judgment in LCD Monitor Case
Erik de Bie, Erik Zietse, March 13, 2009
On February 19, 2009, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) passed a very important judgment in the leading LCD monitor classification case.

Exempt Organizations Must Prepare for Enforcement of Foreign Financial Account Reporting Obligations in 2009
Tracy Green Landauer, March 13, 2009
Nathan Hochman, Assistant Attorney General and head of the Tax Division of the Justice Department, recently announced the IRS intends to pursue prosecution of exempt organizations that have not properly reported their interests in foreign accounts.

H.R.1: American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 -- A Summary of the Key Bond and Credit Provisions
Michael L. Lehr, Vanessa Albert Lowry, Jessica S. Powers, Timothy D. Wolfe, March 13, 2009
On February 17, 2009, the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 (the "Act") into law.

Massachusetts Amends Data Protection and Notification Regulations; Extends Compliance Deadline to January 1, 2010
Joseph W. Ambash, Jeffrey M. Burns, Justin Keith, Terence P. McCourt, March 13, 2009
On February 12, 2009, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) issued amendments to the state's data security regulations and extended the deadline for compliance with the regulations.

Stimulus Act Provides $7.2 Billion for Funding Broadband
Mitchell F. Brecher, March 13, 2009
Included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA 2009), signed into law by President Obama on February 16, are provisions that will make available $7.2 billion for development of broadband facilities throughout the United States.

New Federal Tax Form Spurs Adoption of Policies and Increased Director Oversight
Harry J. Friedman, Tracy Green Landauer, March 06, 2009
The revised IRS Form 990, the annual information return filed by most tax exempt organizations, other than private foundations, has become effective for the 2009 filing season.

China's State Administration of Taxation Releases Related-Party Transaction Disclosure Forms
Peter Neumann, George Qi, Dawn Zhang, January 30, 2009
Earlier this year, the People's Republic of China (PRC) State Administration of Taxation (SAT) promulgated new tax regulations, effective for 2008, which greatly expand the amount of information regarding related-party transactions that must be disclosed to the PRC tax authorities by companies...

California Begins Nanomaterial Data Call-In
James Mattesich, Angela Diesch, January 07, 2009
As a prelude to potential California nanomaterial regulations, the California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) has announced a call-in of chemical information from manufacturers of carbon nanotubes (CNT).

European VAT, Customs and Trade Alert
Erik De Bie, Martijn Kouffeld, Martin Ouwehand, Jeffry Senduk, Erik Zietse, December 13, 2008
The European Commission (EC) has published a proposal for Community legislation laying down obligations of operators who place on the market timber and timber products.

Illinois Employers Must Report Pornography Discovered on Employees' Computers
Ruth A. Bahe-Jachna, Tiffany S. Fordyce, December 11, 2008
The Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (325 ILCS 5/1 et seq.) was amended on August 29, 2008, to require employers to report certain pornography discovered on their work computers to the authorities.

Maryland Enacts Broad Flexible Leave Law
Maria E. Hallas, Shane T. Muñoz, December 11, 2008
On October 1, 2008, the Flexible Leave Act (FLA) took effect in Maryland.

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Practice Areas & Industries: Greenberg Traurig, P.A.

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