Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP is pleased to announce that former CenturyLink Vice President Melissa Newman is joining the firm. Ms. Newman brings strong regulatory and policy experience from both the government and private sectors to Wilkinson Barker Knauer’s top-tier telecommunications practice.

Ms. Newman recently retired as Vice President, Federal Policy and Regulatory Affairs for CenturyLink. In this role, she served as head of the federal regulatory group. She was involved in securing $2.5 billion in government funding to provide broadband services in high cost, rural areas and was responsible for developing and implementing strategic regulatory policies and advocacy. Ms. Newman served in a similar capacity at Qwest Communications for ten years, before it was acquired by CenturyLink.

Prior to her time at Qwest Communications and CenturyLink, Ms. Newman served as the Deputy Division Chief, Policy and Program Planning Division, Common Carrier Bureau for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). She previously served as legal counsel to the Common Carrier Bureau Chief and as an attorney-advisor at the FCC, with three years in private practice between those two roles.

Additionally, Ms. Newman is an active member of the Federal Communications Bar Association. In 2014, she was recognized by Fierce Telecom Magazine for Women in Wireline, which recognized female leaders shaping telecom services, innovation, and policy. She is a graduate of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri and of the University of Minnesota.

Bryan Tramont, Managing Partner of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, said, “Melissa is an extraordinary leader, advocate and friend. She is widely and deeply respected by the industry, government and all of us at Team WBK. We look forward to this new chapter in her distinguished career.” Ms. Newman added, “I’ve known the folks at WBK for a long time, and I look forward to being a part of their fast-paced and deeply knowledgeable team.”

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, one of the largest law firms in the nation dedicated primarily to the practice of communications and energy law, is ranked as a “first tier” firm by Chambers USA (Telecom, Broadcast, and Satellite: Regulatory), and Legal 500 (Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory), and was twice named “Law Firm of the Year” in communications law by U.S. News – Best Lawyers (2012 & 2014). The firm, with offices in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado, advises clients ranging from global Fortune 100 companies to small start-ups in regulatory, transactional, privacy/cybersecurity, consumer protection, intellectual property, corporate and litigation matters involving all aspects of communications and energy law, at both the state and federal levels.

Ms. Newman will be resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and can be reached at 202-383-3410 and at mnewman@wbklaw.com. Additional information about Ms. Newman can be found at http://www.wbklaw.com/Our_Team/Melissa_Newman.