St. Ledger-Roty Neuman & Olson LLP ... slrno@slrno.com
 
Telecommunications . Internet . Media . Privacy . Data Security
1155 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 1000 Washington DC 202.454.9401 202.457.7789
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Karen Neuman attorney

KAREN NEUMAN

 

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Karen's practice concentrates on compliance, risk mitigation and strategic counseling in the technology, media and telecommunications industries with emphasis on privacy and data security laws governing the collection, retention, management and use of diverse kinds of information about individuals. Karen is a frequent speaker on current and developing legal issues involving this topic. She has also developed expertise in federal initiatives to deploy and promote innovative uses of wireless communications platforms and technologies for uses that include mobile advertising, mobile content delivery, the smart grid and delivery of health care services. All of these matters involve the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the National Telecommunications Information Agency, various state regulatory agencies and foreign data protection authorities.

Early in her career Karen worked for the National trade group that represents state public service commissions. During this period she was appointed to serve as the first state staff member to an FCC Federal-State Joint Board, focusing on post-AT&T divestiture issues and helping to achieve consensus among state and federal regulators who were moving from a tightly regulated environment to gradual deregulation across markets, opening up opportunities for innovation and competition. She subsequently joined a boutique law firm, nationally known for its representation of local cable franchise authorities, where she expanded her knowledge of telecommunications and media law, playing a lead role in litigation that helped establish the first amendment rights of cable telecommunications operators.

With over two decades of experience advising government and industry, Karen’s practice has evolved to focusing on assisting companies formulate and achieve business objectives within existing legal and regulatory frameworks and anticipating how changes to those frameworks could impact existing and future strategies. She has also been instrumental in forging coalitions and developing effective strategic communications to regulators and policy makers on behalf of telecommunications and Internet stakeholders on such diverse matters as privacy, open broadband networks and competition issues raised by mergers and acquisitions involving large Internet and software companies, and antitrust investigations associated with innovative product launches. Karen has appeared before numerous state regulatory bodies and in state and federal courts on behalf of her clients.


Representative matters have included:

  • Providing COPPA compliance guidance to a European-based website operator;
  • Providing compliance guidance to nonprofit and private entities about state privacy and data breach laws in connection with online databases and recommending appropriate improvements to privacy policies and data security programs;
  • Creating and convening a stakeholder advisory board for a large Silicon Valley-based ISP to facilitate dialogue on key privacy policy and legal concerns raised by company products and initiatives;
  • Co-counsel in pending multi-party federal court challenge to a state’s legal scheme for adding and removing registrants from its voter registration database on the basis of matching protocol;
  • Leading a team of lawyers in complex state and federal court proceedings brought against a joint cable telecommunications franchise authority involving constitutional, statutory, contract and state law claims and addressing the rights of video services providers to obtain competitive cable franchises -- resulting in a successful resolution for the client;
  • Structuring, negotiating and drafting cable franchise agreements; drafting and negotiating cable ordinances and assisting local governments to monitor and enforce compliance; and
  • Defending against a wholesale challenge to a municipal franchise scheme in a case that helped clarify the first amendment rights of cable operators;
  • Advising a telecommunications service provider about the regulatory consequences of classifying new service offerings and how to minimize the costs of regulatory compliance for other initiatives.

Recent Speaking Engagements & Publications:

  • Legal Issues Associated with Local Government Use of Social Media, June 3 2010, SCAN- NATOA Spring Conference, Long Beach, Ca.
  • Moderator, FCBA Privacy & Data Security Committee Program: Privacy and Data Security Issues Involving Marketing to Minors, May 19, 2010, Washington, D.C.
  • An Examination Of Recent Legal Developments In Mobile Advertising Along With Practical Considerations For Direct Response Retailing Over The Mobile Channel, Electronic Retailer Magazine, March 2010.
  • ERA Great Ideas Summit: Mobile is Here - Now What: Recent Legal & Regulatory Developments, February 2, 2010, New Orleans.
  • Media Future Now: Legal Issues Involving Mobile Media, October 19, 2009, Washington, D.C.

Karen is a founding partner in St. Ledger-Roty Neuman & Olson LLP.

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