Practice Areas
Education
- J.D., Harvard Law School
- A.B., cum laude, The College of William & Mary
Law Journals
- Executive Editor, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy
Clerkships
Law Clerk for the Honorable E. Grady Jolly,
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
(2002-2003)
Bar & Court Admissions
Megan L. Brown
PARTNER202.719.7579
| mbrown@wileyrein.comMs. Brown has significant litigation, appellate and regulatory experience before state and federal courts and agencies.
Ms. Brown has developed particular expertise helping businesses respond to regulation and legislation raising constitutional, administrative law and statutory issues. She represents corporations in complex litigation and regulatory proceedings and develops litigation and compliance strategies under a variety of statutes, including the federal Communications Act, as well as the U.S. Constitution.
Ms. Brown also serves as the chair of Wiley Rein’s Recruiting Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Litigates issues arising under the U.S. Constitution, the federal Communications Act and other statutes, from the trial level through the Supreme Court, including emergency motions for preliminary relief, fact and expert discovery, motions for summary judgment, appellate briefing and Supreme Court review.
- Brings challenges to state and local regulations, including a First Amendment lawsuit against the City of San Francisco's cell phone "right-to-know" ordinance mandating warnings about cell phones in retail stores. This is the first case testing the authority of a local government to mandate such warnings.
- Ms. Brown has helped secure numerous victories in cases of first impression, including express preemption of the first state consumer protection measure targeted at cell phone contracts, conflict preemption of personal injury claims and field preemption of local laws regulating wireless technologies.
- Represents clients in regulatory proceedings, from rulemakings and enforcement actions to merger review. Recent experience includes work on cyber and national security obligations, environmental regulations and myriad issues concerning national communications policy.
- Assists clients in appellate review of agency decisions and lower court actions in the federal Courts of Appeals and in the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Counsels clients on and develops strategies to address complex compliance and security issues, including emerging regulation, obligations and incident response in the area of cybersecurity.
- Specific experience in national security obligations, including Team Telecom review of transactions and operations, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the Wiretap Act, as well as international compliance challenges.
- Maintains a robust pro bono practice before the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeals on issues including national security, global warming and the core First Amendment rights of individuals, associations and businesses.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Counsel to the Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (2007-2008).
- Legal Intern, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor General (2002).
- Legal Intern, Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Greenbelt Division (2000).
- Provides commentary on a wide range of legal issues to radio and print media, including Bloomberg Legal, the National Law Journal, and CNN and Fox News radio affiliates.
AFFILIATIONS
- American Bar Association (ABA).
- Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA).
- The Federalist Society, Executive Committee, Federalism and Separation of Powers Practice Group (2004-2007).
- Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia (WBA).
HONORS & AWARDS
- Named by The Legal 500 US a "recommended lawyer" in Telecom and Broadcast Regulatory Law (2012).
- Named one of DC's "Rising Stars" by Super Lawyers magazine (2013).
PUBLICATIONS
CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL- Summary of the First Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Notice of Inquiry In the Matter of Reassessment of Federal Communications Commission Radiofrequency Exposure Limits and Policies and Proposed Changes in the Commission's Rules Regarding Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields
Nancy J. Victory, Andrew G. McBride, Joshua S. Turner and Megan L. Brown
April 8, 2013
- Commerce Department Seeking Industry Comment on Cybersecurity Incentives—Opportunity to Shape Policy
Nova J. Daly, Megan L. Brown and Scott Weaver
March 28, 2013
- Combating Cyber-Terrorism: President Issues Executive Order on Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity
Megan L. Brown, Jennifer S. Zucker, Jon W. Burd, Scott Weaver, Nova J. Daly and Caroline Rose Van Wie
February 13, 2013
- Rockefeller Releases Staff Report on “Fortune 500” Companies’ Cybersecurity Views
Megan L. Brown, Scott Weaver and Nova J. Daly
January 30, 2013
- ECPA Updates on the Table: A Harbinger of Litigation and Legislation
Megan L. Brown, Caroline Rose Van Wie and Scott Weaver
December 2012 | Privacy In Focus
- ECPA Updates on the Table: A Harbinger of Litigation and Legislation
Megan L. Brown, Caroline Rose Van Wie and Scott Weaver
December 3, 2012
- U.S. Cybersecurity: How Change Could Impact Global Business
Megan L. Brown and Caroline Rose Van Wie
August 2012 | E-Finance & Payments Law & Policy
- GAO Recommends that the FCC Reassess Exposure and Testing Requirements for Mobile Phones
R. Michael Senkowski, Andrew G. McBride, David E. Hilliard, Joshua S. Turner and Megan L. Brown
August 13, 2012
- Global Warming Nuisance Suits Given a Cool Reception in Court
Megan L. Brown and Roger H. Miksad
June 2012 | The Federalist Society's Class Action Watch
- If California Imposes Genetically Modified Food Requirements, All Consumer Product Labeling Is at Risk
Megan L. Brown
June 2012 | Product Stewardship & Sustainability Report
- First Amendment Litigation Could Impact Many Products, Not Just Cigarettes
Megan L. Brown and Caroline Rose Van Wie
June 2012 | Product Stewardship & Sustainability Report
SPEECHES
CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALLNEWS RELEASES
CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALLSan Francisco Abandons Unconstitutional Cell Phone Ordinance in Settlement with Wireless Industry
May 17, 2013
Fifty-Eight Wiley Rein Attorneys Named to DC "Super Lawyers" List Across 18 Areas of the Law
April 19, 2013
Supreme Court Rejects FISA Challenge, as Urged By Wiley Rein Amicus Brief on Behalf of Former Attorneys General
February 26, 2013
Wiley Rein Secures Wide-Reaching First Amendment Decision on Behalf of the Wireless Industry
September 11, 2012
Wiley Rein Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief on Behalf of Six Former Attorneys General in FISA Case
August 3, 2012
The Legal 500 US Ranks Wiley Rein's Telecommunications Group in the Top Tier for the Sixth Consecutive Year
June 6, 2012
The Legal 500 US Ranks Four Wiley Rein Practices Among Nation's Best; Wiley and Senkowski Named 'Leading Lawyers'
May 30, 2012
IN THE NEWS
CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALLWiley Rein’s Megan Brown Quoted by Los Angeles Times on Supreme Court FISA Ruling
February 27, 2013 | Los Angeles Times
Megan Brown Previews Supreme Court’s New Term
October 3, 2012 | CNN Radio
Wiley Rein’s Megan Brown Comments on Supreme Court FISA Challenge
August 3, 2012 | Law360
