Practice Strengths

BakerHostetler lawyers not only guide our clients through the maze of federal and state regulatory agencies and proceedings—we take an active role in shaping regulatory processes on their behalf.  We help our clients respond to investigations and litigation initiated by the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department (including both civil and criminal matters), the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and enforcement authorities in the European Commission and other nations.

We practice before the National Labor Relations Board, the National Mediation Board and numerous state public sector employment relations boards. Our firm has a leading federal and state environmental regulatory practice, and we take an active role in the regulatory changes that are reshaping the natural gas industry and other energy industry segments.

We counsel clients throughout audits and investigations conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and numerous state securities commissions. We also are on the cutting edge of legislative and administrative tax law developments involving policymakers at the IRS, in Congress and at the Treasury Department.

Federal Trade Commission
We represent consumer product and service providers on matters before the Federal Trade Commission ranging from investigations and prosecutions to advertising, credit and direct sales. Our lawyers also have extensive experience in representing clients before the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, as we submit required reports and notifications and implement product recalls and other corrective actions.

Federal Communications Commission
We represent media, telecommunications and information technology clients before the Federal Communications Commission, executive agencies and Congress to help them bring their wired and wireless communication services to market quickly. Clients including broadcasters, cable television programmers and personal digital communications service providers rely on us to obtain required FCC authorizations for their new product and service offerings. 

Regulatory Proceedings Experience

• Represented a national media company in gaining the approval of the Justice Department for a joint operating arrangement (JOA) between a major metropolitan newspaper and its principal competitor.
• Convinced the FTC to close an investigation of a large high-tech company about performance claims for its consumer products.
• Advised members of a trade association on how to comply with FTC's "Do Not Call" regulations for telemarketers.
• Negotiated consent decrees and remedial action orders with the Department of Justice and various state agencies for numerous companies on matters arising under the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and state and federal Superfund laws.
• Represented a client in a Department of Defense investigation of a transfer of technology, limiting a criminal subpoena and deflecting other investigations by the Commerce and State departments.
• Serve as lead counsel for wireless carriers and tower management companies in state regulatory and court actions brought by residents seeking removal of cellular telephone towers.
• Represent major automotive manufacturers in a variety of conflicts with vehicle dealers before the Texas Motor Vehicle Board.