Pantelis Michalopoulos

Pantelis Michalopoulos regularly advises clients on new or unprecedented areas of telecommunications and technology law. Praised by clients in Chambers USA for “his ability to come up with innovative…business solutions to complicated legal issues,” Pantelis’s practice covers the entire span of telecommunications, media, and internet law and regulation, including licensing, rulemaking, and complaint proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as well as other agencies such as the Copyright Office.

Representing the consumers and the American Libraries Association, he argued in the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit against the FCC’s “broadcast flag” requirement, which would have prevented the Internet redistribution of High Definition television content. The court struck this rule down in 2005. On behalf of EchoStar, he successfully challenged the FCC’s “plug-and-play” rules in the same court.

Representing the Internet industry, he presented oral argument in two net neutrality cases, which resulted in two landmark DC Circuit decisions, one upholding the agency’s jurisdiction to protect the Internet, and the other ultimately affirming the FCC’s 2015 net neutrality order in its entirety. He counseled wireless carriers, satellite carriers and private equity funds in a number of high profile acquisitions. He also regularly represents telecommunications clients in matters of preemption of state regulation.

In the antitrust area, Pantelis often assists clients in advocating for or against clearance of proposed mergers by the antitrust agencies, and has contributed breakthroughs to the analysis of the economic effects of certain mergers on the Internet industry.

Bar & Court Admissions:

• District of Columbia
• New York
• Athens Bar

Education:

• LL.M., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1989
• Law School of the National University of Athens, 1988, excellent, Law Diploma
• B.A., American College of Greece, 1987, highest distinction