Garvey Schubert Barer
Headquarters Location: Seattle
 www.gsblaw.com

Q: What does your company do and how long has it been in operation?
A: Garvey Schubert Barer is a full�]service law firm, with offices in five U.S. cities and Beijing, China. It has been in operation since 1966. The Washington, D.C., office includes an established communications practice with experience in telecommunications, broadcasting/media, cable and high technology. The firm was been named as one of the best companies to work for in 2009.

Q: To what do you attribute your company’s success in the communications industry?
A: The regulatory environment in which the communications industry functions—like the industry itself—has been uniquely dynamic and fast-paced. Our experience gives us the knowledge and perspective to guide and represent clients, not just based on the latest regulatory development but also on a deep understanding of that regulation’s history and where it originated. Equally important is our commitment to listen to our clients and to represent their needs—whatever and wherever they may be—to the best of our ability . . . competently, efficiently and cost-effectively.

Q: What have been the biggest obstacles your law firm has faced in the marketplace?
A: Clients don’t truly find out whether their lawyers are any good until they’ve engaged them and, even then, the lawyer’s success or failure is not always immediately apparent. Often, clients shop on price alone. While we think we offer a tremendous value proposition, especially in comparison to other multi-city firms, the primary reason to hire us is because we will work to understand your business, your particular needs and then give you the results you want. Our law firm in general, and our communications practice group in particular, are well-known for being results-oriented; the challenge, especially in this highly competitive legal environment, is getting potential clients to experience that first�]hand by choosing us.

Q: What do you see as your greatest challenges going forward?
A: Our greatest challenge is always to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations in all respects. This is a continuing challenge that we have met and exceeded in the past.

Q: What have been some of your company’s most recent achievements (new customer wins, new service/product deployment, etc.)?
A: We are pleased to have just recently added several clients to our portfolio. Representing a CLEC, one of our lawyers litigated a precedent-setting case in the U.S. Court of Appeals involving the role of arbitrators in interconnection agreement litigation. We are currently one of only a small handful of law firms involved in cutting-edge access litigation on behalf of rural LECs and conference calling service providers before several public utility commissions, federal courts and the FCC. We also have been very active in the broadband and tribal arenas. Through comments filed with NTIA, we sought changes in the BTOP application procedures to simplify the application and give tribes more control over the deployment of broadband services on tribal lands. We have also assisted several clients in the preparation of BTOP and BIP applications in both NOFA rounds. We have recently represented Native Public Media and the National Congress of American Indians on matters before the FCC, NTIA and Congress. Through rulemaking comments filed with the FCC, we created, and are now seeking to expand, a “tribal priority” that gives federally recognized tribes and tribal-controlled entities an enhanced opportunity to secure broadcast spectrum that will serve tribal lands. Moreover, we have prepared Congressional testimony on behalf of several clients proposing the creation of a fund specifically for the development of broadband on tribal lands and for the creation of an FCC Office of Tribal Affairs.

Q: Why is it important for your company to be a COMPTEL member?
A: The COMPTEL membership is the bull’s eye of our actual and potential communications client base. So, COMPTEL membership is part of our effort to deepen our involvement in the communications industry, not only to get the word out about our firm, but also to learn more about the business that will help us better serve our clients.