With an understanding of the changing technologies, fast-paced markets and evolving regulatory environment, McCann FitzGerald's lawyers combine in-depth industry expertise with first-class legal knowledge
Overview
We understand that the communications business is constantly evolving. As new technologies and applications develop and regulation evolves, operators respond with new ideas and business models. We work with our clients to achieve their commercial objectives in this fast moving sector and seek to develop strategies and programmes to manage their legal and regulatory work.
McCann FitzGerald has unrivalled experience in this sector in Ireland, advising a range of players including major network, broadcasting and media operators as well as regulators and other state entities.
Expertise
We have been active in this sector since markets were liberalised over two decades ago, with a strong emphasis on assisting new entrants and operators offering innovative solutions. We believe that our deep and broad experience from a number of perspectives - public and private sector, supplier and customer - allows us to offer a unique perspective that matches client needs.
Our communications experience covers the full range of transactional, regulatory and contentious work, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, financing, joint ventures and interconnection and access agreements, as well as a broad range of statutory appeals, judicial reviews, competition complaints and defence, and regulatory compliance.
Clients include mobile, wireless, cable and fixed operators, digital and new media content providers and major entertainment operators in Ireland. The firm has also been retained to represent the Irish communications regulator, ComReg, on a number of matters. We also regularly advise innovative market entrants with emerging technologies.
Area of expertise include:
- Irish and EU regulatory and licensing/authorisation requirements;
- Interconnection and access;
- Market reviews, dominance/SMP issues;
- Network provision and roll-out;
- Wireless spectrum allocation;
- Property and planning law issues;
- Contractual issues including supply terms and conditions;
- Regulatory compliance;
- Consumer protection;
- Data protection and privacy;
- Information society legislation and policy;
- Outsourcing;
- EU audio visual policy, including television without frontiers;
- Public service obligations and USO;
- Competition law complaints and defence;
- State aid.
Directory Comments
With lawyers from different groups possessing top-of-the-line sectoral expertise, this firm can provide a sophisticated suite of services to clients within the telecoms industry......"The firm is extremely pleasant to deal with - very proactive in engaging with the client, and its high-quality lawyers give lucid adn coherent advice," say sources. Practice contacts include Brussels-based Damian Collins, who brings a "keen understanding of the political and legislative environment in Ireland" to the table, and top regulatory expert Rosaleen Byrne. Chambers Europe, 2010
McCann FitzGerald boasts "excellent availability" and "attention to detail". The firm is a real leader in telecoms work, acting for the full spread of telecoms companies as well as regulators and other public bodies. The Legal 500, 2010