Wiley Rein’s Scott Delacourt Profiled as ‘Telecom MVP’ by Law360

November 24, 2015

Scott D. Delacourt, a partner in Wiley Rein’s Telecom, Media & Technology (TMT) Practice and chair of the firm’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Practice, was profiled by Law360 as a 2015 “Telecom MVP.” He was one of just five attorneys named to the highly competitive list in the telecommunications category.

The November 23 Law360 article cited Mr. Delacourt’s outstanding representation of telecom clients in several regulatory, enforcement, and transactional matters over the past year. He had a key role in negotiating, on behalf of TracFone, a settlement with the FTC regarding the marketing of wireless data plans. He also advised TracFone in its settlement of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigation regarding the “unlocking” of wireless handsets.

On behalf of PayPal, he secured a “no action” letter in an FCC investigation involving changes to the company’s user agreement relating to consent to contact customers. He also serves as FCC counsel to Fortress Investment Group LLC and JPMorgan Chase & Co. as the companies plan a $6.8 billion acquisition of LightSquared Inc.

Mr. Delacourt has extensive FCC experience, having served as Deputy Bureau Chief and Chief of Staff of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, as Senior Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel, and as Legal Advisor to the Wireless Bureau Chief. He told Law360 that explaining the business case behind a company’s particular conduct is an important way to mitigate an enforcement action.

It is important to “give the decision-maker an understanding of the fact that business judgments were made in good faith,” Mr. Delacourt said. He added that during his years at the FCC, the most effective private advocates “would always try to humanize their client and be forthcoming about their business objectives.” He noted the importance of explaining to regulators that a company is in business for the long haul and that “fraud is not a long-term business plan.”

The 2015 class of Law360 MVPs includes 189 attorneys from 86 firms spanning 31 practice areas. Editors reviewed more than 850 submissions in selecting the winners.