Introduction to our Eastern European Practice
After decades of client representation in domestic and foreign telecommunications markets (“telecoms” in EU parlance), we expanded our Firm’s presence to Eastern Europe. In the future, we anticipate opening an office in Budapest, Hungary. See https://wstelecomlaw.com/attorneys-and-staff/
On a special note, we are pleased to announce Alla Naglis, one of Russia’s leading Telecommunications, Media and Technology attorneys, has joined our Firm as a partner. Formerly a Partner in the Moscow Office of King & Spalding, Ms. Naglis heads up the Firm’s Eastern European practice. For more information on Ms. Naglis, please see https://wstelecomlaw.com/2021/12/alla-naglis/
The investment opportunities in U.S. and International wireless infrastructure now overshadowed by geopolitical uncertainties. For more details on representation of U.S., European and Russian investors in today’s era of sanctions, counter-sanctions, and other difficulties, please see our recent “Negotiable Hostilities” webinars, sponsored by Thomson Reuters, and our accompanying Foreign Investment Brochure: https://wstelecomlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Brochure-Foreign-Investment-in-Wireless-Infrastructure-July-2020_m-1.pdf
https://wstelecomlaw.com/2020/09/our-next-webinar/
For more information on Russian telecom, media and Internet law, please see our recent publication: https://iclg.com/practice-areas/telecoms-media-and-internet-laws-and-regulations/russia
Especially relevant today are the emerging difficulties of companies seeking (or required) to exit the Russian marketplace. The legal difficulties – including unwinding cross-border agreements, navigating sanctions, and complying with U.S. and Russian transfer restrictions – are challenging areas with which we have experience. These and other issues will be the subject of our upcoming webinar for Thomson Reuters, Part III of our Negotiable Hostilities Series “Doing Business in the Current Crisis”.
For more information, contact us at info@wstelecomlaw.com
Cross-Border Telecom Financing
On the U.S. side, our Firm has extensive in representation of foreign strategic investors in U.S. telecommunications markets – including such matters as project and vendor finance, security interests in regulated U.S. assets, inter-creditor (subordination) agreements with foreign lenders, securing regulatory approval for foreign ownership of U.S. wireless assets, and dealing with cross-border money transfer regulations.
Recently, U.S. regulatory hurdles for foreign investors have expanded with new multi-agency scrutiny (“Team Telecom”) of foreign participation in U.S. wireless and digital supply chain market sectors. We are prepared to deal with these developments. With emphasis on deal protection, our Firm attorneys have represented both domestic and foreign counter-parties in cross border financial transactions, including use of international letters of credit, subordination agreements, and secured financing arrangements. Our attorneys also have extensive experience in dealing with Eastern European banking institutions, and in navigating through the alphabet soup of domestic and foreign restrictions on cross-border money transfers and foreign investment barriers – among which are FinCen (https://www.fincen.gov/), CFIUS and FIRRMA (https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/international/the-committee-on-foreign-investment-in-the-united-states-cfius), and KYC https://www.fincen.gov/resources/statutes-regulations/federal-register-notices/customer-due-diligence-requirements (money-laundering regulations).
Perhaps most importantly, in the telecoms sector, we have ongoing experience in the negotiation of transactions involving a critical new wireless technology (“5G”).
As the new 5G technology evolves here and abroad, both U.S. and foreign investors will seek to capitalize on this new opportunity. For more information on some of the complexities of 5G and related investment opportunities, please listen to our podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBamix6mM9Q
Российские Телекоммуникации и Международное Финансирование
Анонсирование московского офиса и знакомство с нашей российской практикой.
Представляя инвесторов на внутреннем и внешнем телекоммуникационных рынках (”telecoms” на языке ЕС) более десяти лет и отвечая на запросы клиентов, мы решили расширить присутствие нашей фирмы в Москве, Россия. Мы рады сообщить, что к нашему новому московскому офису присоединится ряд российских адвокатов.
В это же время акционер фирмы русско-американского происхождения и свободно владеющий русским языком Уолт (Владимир) Сапронов посодействует процессу расширения. Это происходит конечно во время геополитической неопределенности и повышенной обеспокоенности США в отношении безопасности иностранных беспроводных поставщиков, глобальной гонки за беспроводное развертывание “5-G” и повышенных российско – американских международных инвестиционных барьеров. Представление интересов инвесторов в этой среде является «противоположной» игрой, по меньшей мере сложной.
Мы принимаем этот вызов. Инвестиционные возможности в беспроводной инфраструктуре США более чем компенсируют регуляторные барьеры и барьеры для международного ввода. Получить более подробную информацию о представительстве российских инвесторов в сегодняшней эпохе санкций/встречных санкций и других трудностей вы можете ознакомившись с публикацией этого сайта. Кроме того, смотрите наш недавний вебинар, спонсируемый Thomson Reuters.