Telecommunications
About
Telecommunications companies are connecting our world today, delivering information, resources, entertainment and so much more across networks and across borders.
Serving telecommunications companies worldwide
We have a long history of working with clients and matters in over 100 countries in both emerging markets and the developed world, with projects ranging from towers and satellites, to cable and mobile telecoms.
Market-leading experience in telecommunications
We offer clients a broad range of capabilities in the telecommunications sector, with deep bench strength that comes from decades of experience. Our Telecommunications, Media and Technology Practices are made up of a large group of dedicated lawyers across numerous practices, based in offices throughout our global network. Having worked on some of the biggest and most high-profile transactions across the globe, they are able to combine sector and product specialization in a way that greatly benefits our clients.
Working on behalf of governments, regulatory bodies and telecommunications operators, we have considerable knowledge in the area of telecommunications regulation, especially regarding access, interconnection, licensing, numbering, spectrum, tariffs and unfair commercial practices. We can also draw on the experience of our lawyers who have been previously employed by regulatory bodies such as the European Commission (EC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Cross-practice strength for your most complex projects
Clients rely on us to anticipate and overcome their most complex legal challenges. Our telecommunications team is multidisciplinary. Our lawyers are focused on areas including finance, capital markets, M&A, dispute resolution, regulatory, tax and projects–which means we are always able to bring together a highly skilled team to execute your matters successfully and efficiently.
Experience
EchoStar Corporation
We advised EchoStar Corporation in its strategic transaction with DISH Network Corporation. In the transaction, EchoStar and its subsidiaries received five satellites along with related liabilities for in-orbit incentive payments to the manufacturers of certain of those satellites, and approximately US$11 million in cash from DISH Network in exchange for two issues of a newly-created preferred tracking stock that tracks the residential retail satellite business of Hughes Network Systems, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar, and in its related long-term operating lease agreement for transponder services to DISH on the satellites to be received by EchoStar and its subsidiaries.
Afrimax
We represented Afrimax Limited, an emerging markets telecommunications company, on a sizeable equity investment for 24 percent of the share capital of Afrimax in the form of convertible preference shares by the IFC and IFC African, Latin American and Caribbean Fund, LP.
Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A.
We represented Wind Acquisition Finance S.A. and Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A., a leading Italian telecommunications operator, on a corporate refinancing which included a new €4 billion issuance of three tranches of senior secured bonds by Wind Acquisition Finance S.A. The transaction also included a simultaneous tender offer for outstanding securities of Wind Acquisition Finance S.A. to facilitate the transaction.
Numericable Group
We represented a syndicate of banks led by Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan in the €750 million initial public offering of Numericable Group on the regulated market of NYSE Euronext in Paris, initiated by its shareholders, Carlyle and Cinven.
