Ms. Helgi Walker, a partner at Wiley Rein & Fielding, has extensive experience in appellate, litigation and regulatory matters involving common carrier, wireless, cable, Internet and broadcast issues.  The Legal 500 US hails her abilities as a litigator; clients told this guide to “the best of the best” that Ms. Walker is “an absolutely fantastic appellate lawyer” who is “hard to beat.”

Representative Experience:

• Secured dismissal of all claims against clients Molson Coors and Coors Brewing Company, as well as numerous other American manufacturers and distributors of alcohol beverages, in several class action lawsuits alleging that industry advertising was to blame for underage drinking.  Currently representing the companies in similar class actions and appeals pending across the country.
• Secured victory for the nation’s largest national wireless carrier in first test of state legislative authority over wireless rates and business practices, litigating case from federal district court to Supreme Court.
• Led litigation team for Fortune 500 media company in historic challenge to FCC's children's television rules, resulting in successful settlement for client.
• Led the appeal of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mass media ownership ruling on behalf of a major national communications company.
• Representing a national telecommunications firm in rights-of-way cases against several municipalities in federal courts of appeals and district courts around the country.
• Assisting various clients with high-level national legal issues.

Professional Experience:

• Associate Counsel to the President of the United States (2001-2003).  Responsible for legal matters arising out of the FCC, US Departments of Labor and Transportation and Federal Election Commission, as well as general regulatory and administrative law matters and judicial selection.
• Senior Legal Advisor and Chief of Staff (1999-2000) and Legal Advisor (1997-1999) to FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth.  Responsible for mass media and cable matters.
• Associate in the appellate and constitutional law private practice group headed by Theodore Olson, former Solicitor General of the United States (1996-1997).
• Deputy Press Secretary (1990-1991) and Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Press Assistant (1988-1990) to Senator Strom Thurmond.

Association Memberships:

• Chair, American Bar Association (ABA), Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice, Communications Committee (2000-2001).

Affiliations:

• Appointed by the President of the United States to serve on the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (2006).
• Appointed by the US State Department to serve as the US Representative on the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization Panel of Legal Experts (2006).
• Member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference.

Honors and Awards:

• Named one of DC’s “Super Lawyers” in the area of Appellate Law by Super Lawyer magazine (2009).
• Elected member of the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court (2008).
• AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest ranking by peers for general ethical standards and legal ability.
• Named by The Legal 500 US a leading lawyer in Telecom Law in the area of litigation for her “amazing work in litigation” (2007 and 2008 editions).