Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP announced today that Scott Blake Harris has joined the firm. Mr. Harris joins Wilkinson Barker after having served two years as the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Energy, followed by two years as the General Counsel of Neustar, Inc., an information services and analytics company headquartered in Sterling, Virginia. He will join Bryan Tramont as a managing partner of the firm and will focus his practice on domestic and international telecommunications, technology, and energy law. 

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to return to the practice of law at a firm that is nationally recognized in telecom, technology, and energy law,” Harris said. “I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to serve as General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Energy and at Neustar. They are both extraordinary organizations and I learned a great deal from my colleagues at each of them. I hope and expect to use what I have learned to benefit all of the firm’s clients.”

Bryan Tramont, managing partner of Wilkinson Barker, said “Scott is a recognized national expert in technology and energy law, a proven leader, and a longtime friend. His addition to Wilkinson Barker underscores our continued commitment to excellence and growth. We are thrilled to add someone of Scott’s stature to enhance our technology, international, and energy practices, and I look forward to working with him.”  Lisa Hook, CEO of Neustar, said, “During his tenure, Scott completely revamped Neustar’s legal, policy, communications, and corporate social responsibility efforts, and he was an important part of our success over the last two years.  But we understand his desire to return to the practice of law, and we are pleased that he will continue to serve as an advisor to Neustar.” 

Mr. Harris is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Federal Communication Commission’s Advisory Committee on the 2015 World Radio Conference, and while at the Department of Energy served as Co-Chair of the Broadband Subcommittee of the White House’s National Science and Technology Council.  He has also been a partner in the law firms of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP, where he was managing partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he headed the communications practice, and Williams & Connolly, where he began his career. In addition to his service at the Energy Department, Mr. Harris served in government from 1993 to 1996, first as Chief Counsel for Export Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce, and then as the first Chief of the International Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission. He also was a member of the Science, Tech, Space and Arts Team in the Obama-Biden Transition. Early in his career, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Gerhard A. Gesell on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Mr. Harris is a magna cum laude graduate of both Harvard Law School and Brown University.

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, one of the largest law firms in the nation dedicated primarily to the practice of communications and technology law, is ranked as a “first tier” firm by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers, Chambers USA (Telecom, Broadcast, and Satellite: Regulatory), and Legal 500 (Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory). 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, corporate and litigation matters involving all aspects  of communications, media and privacy law, as well as in energy and state regulatory matters. Additional information is at http://www.wbklaw.com. 

Mr. Harris is resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and can be reached at (202) 833-1330 and at sbharris@wbklaw.com. Additional information about Mr. Harris can be found at http://www.wbklaw.com/Our_team/Scott_Harris.