THE TOP 10 ATTORNEYS

DAN J. ALPERT Attorney

When one’s personalized license plate reads “COMMLAW,” talking regulatory policy for radio and television broadcasting is serious business. That’s likely a key reason Dan J. Alpert has been selected as one of the nation’s top attorneys by RBR+TVBR readers.

Alpert’s enthusiasm for the broadcasting field began as he followed the career of his brother, former ABC Radio Correspondent David R. Alpert. It continued at Northwestern University, where he was part of the on-air newscast staff at campus radio station WNUR. At the George Washington University National Law Center, Alpert first became exposed to coursework in broadcast regulation.

He moved into the field of communications law in 1983 at communications law firm Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth. Alpert then practiced law at two fullservice corporate law firms before establishing his own legal practice in 1992, focusing entirely on communications law.

Well-known as a workaholic by his clients and friends, he works literally day and night to get his clients’ applications filed and granted and their FCC problems solved. His other big “claim to fame” is that he is a former 20-plus-year member of the Washington Redskins Marching Band.

And what does he see as the one thing that is most vital to the future success of the radio broadcasting industry?

“Radio must actively embrace new technologies,” says Alpert. “Nothing prevents broadcasters from doing things such as supplementing their advertising dollar with a well-run website (which also can generate advertising dollars), podcasts, active involvement in interactive social media, and live video internet feeds, all of which can add an element of excitement and a sense of ‘community’ to stations’ broadcasts.

“The radio broadcasting industry must continue to embrace its roots, but also evolve and react to changing times and new public preferences. I proudly represent predominantly local, community-based broadcasters. Local radio can be a strong part of multi-media buying strategies, while emphasizing the particular aspirations and ideals of the local community.”

Sally Buckman

Member/Manager, Lerman Senter

Sally Buckman particularly enjoys helping clients structure complex transactions to ensure compliance with FCC ownership restrictions and navigating the intricacies of complex operational agreements.

That’s a big reason she’s been selected as one of the Top 10 Attorneys by RBR+TVBR readers.

Buckman specializes in regulatory and business issues facing companies in the media industry and has represented clients involved in all facets of media, including large publicly traded broadcast companies, group owners, large and small familyowned media companies, a national radio network, investment companies, lenders and on-air talent.

Buckman has extensive experience in handling transactions and complex agreements for media companies and also drafts and negotiates syndication and programming agreements, retransmission consent agreements, sports rights agreements, tower leases and other business documents for media companies.

What’s the one thing she thinks is most important to securing radio’s long-term success? “Because the radio broadcast industry has changed dramatically in the past several years, with Google, Facebook, Pandora, Spotify and other large, unregulated companies competing directly and successfully for ad dollars and listeners, it is critical that the ownership restrictions faced by radio broadcasters be relaxed, particularly in smaller markets, so that radio broadcasters have the resources necessary to continue to provide exemplary local service to their communities.”

JOSEPH CHAUTIN III Member, Hardy Carey Chautin & Balkin

Joseph C. Chautin III represents radio and television broadcasters in regulatory and compliance matters as well as transactions and sophisticated private placement and bank financing. Unlike many communications law attorneys, he’s based far from Washington — in Mandeville, La., to be precise.

Before attending law school, Chautin served in the U.S. Air Force; he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force Reserve after 21 total years of service to the United States.

When this veteran isn’t at work, he’s a Ragin’ Cajun who professes to be a humorist and “swim dad.”

JOHN GARZIGLIA Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson

John F. Garziglia got his start in the industry, as did many other radio professionals, by spending more time at his St. Louis University college radio station than in classes. Between college and his first job as an FCC lawyer, Garziglia’s love for radio translated to on-air roles at stations in St. Louis and in Washington, D.C., where he also served as a program director.

This provided a foundation for helping broadcasters with legal advice and acting as a conduit between the FCC and the AM and FM stations it regulates. Garziglia’s legal career began in early 1983, with the processing of radio station assignment and transfer applications in the FCC’s former AM branch. He later moved to the FCC’s Hearing Branch with responsibility for license renewal and revocation proceedings.

Garziglia was lured out of the FCC in late 1984 to join a boutique firm in D.C., Pepper and Corazzini, which in 2002 merged with the firm now known as Womble Bond Dickinson. Some 35 years later, Garziglia continues to devote his practice to representing broadcasters and broadcast stations of all sizes and in many different markets.

Of those receiving nominations, Garziglia was an overwhelming favorite. Much of this industry recognition is tied to his work on, among other things, spearheading AM revitalization by enabling numerous AM stations to acquire FM translators and, most recently, assisting a group of 82 broadcasters in seeking to reduce burdensome FCC EEO paperwork. He also guides stations in mergers and acquisitions, license renewals, FCC auctions, and licensing and regulatory compliance matters.

What is the one thing that is most vital to the future success of the radio broadcasting industry, as he sees it?

“Our industry’s future success depends upon radio continuing to be everywhere,” says Garziglia. “Radio must not lose its ubiquity. In the home, in the workplace, in the car and everywhere else, radio must remain available and accessible. Radio’s unique franchise used to be based upon its transmitters and receivers. Radio’s future now depends upon being able to listen, no matter where or when, to my local radio stations.”

KATHLEEN KIRBY Partner, Wiley Rein LLP

Kathy Kirby is a partner and co-chair of the Telecom, Media, and Technology group at Wiley Rein LLP, where she also sits on the firm’s Executive Committee. Since graduating from law school in 1991, Kirby has represented media clients including major radio and television group owners and programming networks as a trusted adviser on myriad business and transactional issues, as

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