Practice Areas & Industries: Jenner & Block LLP

Practice/Industry Group Overview

From its experience as lead counsel in the antitrust actions against AT&T in the early 1980s to its involvement with every facet of telecommunications practice growing out of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Jenner & Block is recognized as one of the leading telecommunications law firms in the nation. Our attorneys have worked closely with industry executives and engineers to gain an intimate understanding of the difficult business and technological challenges facing competitive carriers, and how advocacy in all fora can efficiently advance these business needs.

The Telecommunications Practice includes extraordinary legal talent and experience in telecommunications law. Our attorneys represent telecommunications clients in courts and agencies nationwide in myriad types of complex matters. Often acting as lead counsel for entire segments of the industry, we provide experience in local competition litigation, FCC practice, regulatory litigation, class actions, commercial telecommunications litigation, intellectual property litigation, antitrust litigation and counseling, and Internet litigation.

Passage of the 1996 Act was a watershed event in the telecommunications industry. Representing telecommunications and information service providers, Jenner & Block has been involved in all major issues raised by the Act, from the regulatory ground rules and the interconnection agreements necessary to compete in local markets, to Bell entry into the long-distance markets, to unbundling requirements needed to foster competition for advanced services. Today's telecommunications battles require counsel that can take charge before judges and regulators alike. Whether the dispute concerns the FCC's latest word on collocation or unbundling, constitutional claims of sovereign immunity or takings, or a nationwide consumer class action, Jenner & Block has the experience to obtain its clients' objectives.

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The Telecommunications Practice includes extraordinary legal talent and experience in telecommunications law. Our attorneys represent telecommunications clients in courts and agencies nationwide in myriad types of complex matters. Often acting as lead counsel for entire segments of the industry, we provide experience in local competition litigation, FCC practice, regulatory litigation, class actions, commercial telecommunications litigation, intellectual property litigation, antitrust litigation and counseling, and Internet litigation.

The Firm has over 10 years experience in representing telecommunications companies with respect to their advertising. This includes extensive experience in federal Lanham Act litigation and arbitrations, state law class action claims proceeding before the National Advertising Review Board, responses to state attorney general inquiries and network challenges. We also have extensive experience in advertising review and substantiation.

Jenner & Block's involvement in telecommunications antitrust issues dates back to the 1970s, when we represented a then-struggling start-up called MCI in its efforts to break AT&T's monopoly over the long-distance business. See MCI Communication Corp. v. AT&T, 708 F.2d 1081 (7th Cir. 1983). We represented MCI throughout the United States in a related antitrust suit that resulted in the break-up of the Bell System, and continued to be closely involved in that litigation as it proceeded through the line-of-business disputes and the triennial reviews. We also have extensive experience in day-to-day antitrust counseling, in the Hart-Scott-Rodino process, and in responding to antitrust-related Civil Investigative Demands issued by the United States Department of Justice.

The rewards of hard-earned market success can be threatened by the challenge and cost of consumer class action litigation. Jenner & Block can offer creative and cost effective solutions to these challenges, and also has experience in taking cases to trial, when necessary.

We represent telecommunications companies in every type of commercial telecommunications litigation, including disputes with sales agents, labor and employment law disputes, advertising matters, and rate and billing disputes.

Many rules of competition are forged at the FCC. Telecommunication clients need access to developments at the FCC, to key commission bureau staff and to the offices of the commissioners. No law firm has better contacts, more experience or more credibility before the FCC than Jenner & Block.

We have considerable experience in patent litigation relating to telecommunications services and devices. Our attorneys offer clients a unique combination of nationally recognized litigation skills, patent law experience, and a technical understanding of telecommunications and Internet networks, signaling, services and equipment.

Our attorneys provide advice on legal issues relating to the Internet, intranets, computer transactions, licensing, security, privacy and e-commerce. We have represented clients in matters involving misappropriation of a copyrighted website design, as well as improper use of trademarks and trade names in Internet websites, either directly, or as metatags or other hidden code. In addition, we remain at the center of the FCC's various proceedings that may impact regulation of the Internet.

No firm has more experience representing companies in judicial review proceedings concerning the orders of the FCC and state regulators arising out of the 1996 Act. Whether collecting hundreds of millions of dollars in inter-carrier compensation for calls to Internet Service Providers, or ensuring that incumbents comply with the market opening requirement of the 1996 Act, Jenner & Block is at the fore.

We have represented carriers in a variety of regulatory battles in agencies and courts alike for over 20 years. Our attorneys frequently appear in Courts of Appeals concerning petitions for review of FCC orders, and are equally comfortable before State Commissions. We also provide counseling on the impact of regulatory orders on carriers.