Veteran Telecom Industry and Privacy Lobbyist Galen Roehl Joins Akin Gump

(Washington, D.C.) – Akin Gump is pleased to announce that Galen A. Roehl has joined the firm as a senior policy advisor in its public law and policy practice. Mr. Roehl comes to Akin Gump from USTelecom, the broadband association, where he most recently served as senior vice president for government affairs.

Mr. Roehl is a veteran of Capitol Hill who brings a substantial background in the telecom policy space, particularly in the realm of privacy. At Akin Gump, he will focus on advising members of the telecommunication and high tech industries on policy and legislation that affects their industries.

At USTelecom, Mr. Roehl represented the nation’s leading broadband providers in front of members of both houses of Congress and their key staff. A key member of USTelecom’s leadership, he worked closely with congressional staff on a broad array of legislation and providing significant input on bills related to cybersecurity, data security, tax policy, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reauthorization, video and patent reform. In addition, he worked with USTelecom’s legal and regulatory affairs team to coordinate efforts at the FCC and on Capitol Hill.

“Galen’s deep experience in the telecom sector will resonate strongly with our significant roster of clients in this space,” said G. Hunter Bates, co-head of Akin Gump’s public law and policy practice. “Equally important is his experience with privacy matters, which remains an area Congress is keenly focused on. I am delighted to welcome him to our team and look forward to his leadership in these crucial areas.”

“Akin Gump is well-known for having the preeminent public policy practice in Washington, and its communications and information technology team is recognized for its outstanding work in all aspects of global telecom matters,” said Mr. Roehl. “I am thrilled to be here and to help lead the firm’s telecom and privacy policy efforts.”

About Galen Roehl

Prior to his tenure at USTelecom, Mr. Roehl spent a decade on Capitol Hill working as a policy analyst for commerce, telecommunications and technology for the U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee, where he advised GOP staff on public policy matters related to telecommunications, technology and other issues under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. He established a monthly technology policy working group attended by congressional staff, FCC staff and think tank scholars, and provided in-depth analysis of Commerce issues for staff members during policy discussions and debate.

Mr. Roehl’s earlier Capitol Hill experience includes working as a staff member on the Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance, where he helped lead the committee’s efforts on privacy and data security. He also served as legislative director for then-Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL); working as a senior policy advisor to then-Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS); and working as a senior policy advisor and legislative assistant to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights. During his time with the Judiciary Committee, Roehl worked extensively on technology and intellectual property issues. Mr. Roehl received his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

About Akin Gump’s Public Law and Policy Practice

The public law and policy practice at Akin Gump has long understood that solutions to many issues facing clients involve the very processes by which legislation and policy are conceived, developed and implemented by governments in the United States and around the world. For this reason, Akin Gump has built and maintains one of the largest and most diverse government relations practices of any major law firm worldwide. The firm’s practice stresses careful evaluation of client issues and detailed design of strategies and tactics to achieve objectives and provide advocacy that is executed in an effective, timely and coordinated manner.

About Akin Gump’s Communications and Information Technology Practice

Akin Gump’s communications and information technology practice represents clients before domestic and international regulatory agencies regarding the formulation of policy in the United States, the European Union and elsewhere and also with regard to a wide range of day-to-day compliance issues. We have represented our clients’ interests before the FCC; the Federal Aviation Administration; the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; the departments of Commerce, Justice and State; the U.S. Trade Representative; the National Aeronautics and Space Agency; the U.S. Information Agency; and Congress. We also represent clients involved in all types of transactions, from routine to complex, including transactions involving securities, mergers and acquisitions, commercial arrangements and joint ventures.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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