Paul Kouroupas – born Philadelphia, PA 1966. Member of the bar of Pennsylvania (1992).
Education
- Temple University B.A., Radio-TV-Film/Political Science History, 1988 cum laude.
- Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D. 1992.
Publications and Presentations
Mr. Kouroupas has been a regular contributor to industry conferences in telecommunications, cyber-security, and energy/transportation.
Special Agencies
- Federal Communications Commission
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Defense
- Department of Commerce
Practice Areas
- U.S. and International Telecommunications Law
- Cyber-security
- Transportation
For over twenty years, Mr. Kouroupas has represented a variety of companies in telecommunications, energy and transportation before local, state, federal, and international regulators. Mr. Kouroupas has successfully prosecuted hundreds of state, federal, and international regulatory proceedings with a direct impact on corporate financial and operational performance, served as an expert witness in over 30 state regulatory proceedings, testified before numerous state legislatures, and spoken at industry conferences around the world.
While at Global Crossing Limited, Mr. Kouroupas led the company’s negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS). As Security Officer under the Network Security Agreement, Mr. Kouroupas was the primary contact with the government and the single point of contact for all lawful process. He was responsible for implementation of and adherence to the terms of the Network Security Agreement and the filing of quarterly and annual reports to the U.S. government. As Security Officer, Mr. Kouroupas was required to obtain a Top Secret security clearance.
Negotiated in the aftermath of the terrorist bombings of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Global Crossing Network Security Agreement represents the most comprehensive effort of CFIUS to secure a domestic telecommunications network. Global Crossing’s implementation of and adherence to the terms of the Network Security Agreement were considered the “gold” standard by the U.S. government.
Additional accomplishments include:
Telecommunications
- Established competition in submarine cable industry by obtaining first landing license for private submarine cable
- Obtained operating licenses in over 20 countries across Asia, Latin America and Europe; developed, implemented, and managed comprehensive regulatory compliance program in 30 countries
- Secured merger approval for multiple acquisitions in numerous Asian, Latin American, and European countries through both regulatory and competition reviews
- Managed bankruptcy proceedings in multiple countries; settled over $300 million in pre-petition debt during bankruptcy with critical equipment vendors
- Negotiated inter-carrier compensation reforms
- Led efforts to be a GSA-scheduled vendor for government sales; negotiated numerous government sales and partnership agreements
- Negotiated assignment of NXX codes to competitive carrier for the first time in history
- Negotiated, arbitrated and implemented 16 interconnection agreements with Bell Atlantic, NYNEX, and BellSouth, including the nation’s first agreement in 1994 between a CLEC and an incumbent local exchange carrier (New York Telephone)
- Developed and implemented public policies which formed the foundation for the Telecommunications Act of 1996
- Developed, implemented, and managed comprehensive regulatory compliance program in 33 countries
Areas of Expertise
- Advocacy/Government relations
- Government contracts
- Complex contracts
- Licenses and compliance
- Information & Cyber Security
- M&A