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Marc S. Martin

Partner
Washington DC
+1.202.778.9859
Fax +1.202.778.9100

Primary Practice

Secondary Practices

Education

  • LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, 1993, (International and Comparative Law)
  • J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, 1991, (cum laude, American Jurisprudence Award)
  • B.A., Connecticut College, 1987, (with distinction)

Admissions

  • Bar of District of Columbia
  • Bar of Pennsylvania (Inactive)
  • Biography Overview
  • Additional Background
  • Representative Work
Drawing on his legal experience in business and government, Marc Martin structures, negotiates and provides strategic counseling for Telecom Media and Technology (“TMT”) transactions and regulatory matters. His transactional experience includes technology and content licensing agreements, procurement agreements and mobile application transactions involving technology devices, software, spectrum licenses, and programming and digital media, and the distribution of such assets over wireless, broadcast, cable, satellite and broadband platforms. He represents companies, entrepreneurs and investors before the Federal Communications Commission, Executive Branch, Congress and the courts in matters involving TMT transactions, spectrum policy, FCC rulemaking, licensing, auction and enforcement proceedings, privacy, and commercial disputes.

Professional Background

Chambers USA has ranked Mr. Martin as a top lawyer practicing in Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite. Prior to joining K&L Gates, Mr. Martin served as the chief legal officer of the following companies: Convera, a public search software and online services company, BET.com, LLC (and served as VP and Deputy GC of Black Entertainment Television) and the telecom subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation. Mr. Martin was selected as a finalist as a “Top Washington Lawyer” in Technology Transactions from among 400 nominees by the Washington Business Journal.

Prior to practicing in-house, Mr. Martin practiced in the Washington, D.C. office of an international law firm. He also served as an attorney at the FCC in the Office of Plans and Policy (where he was part of the initial team that drafted the FCC's spectrum auction rules and policies) and in the predecessor to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.

Professional/Civic Activities

  • Member of the Board of Trustees, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
  • Federal Communications Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Co-chair, K&L Gates Hiring Committee, Washington, D.C. office

Speaking Engagements

Mr. Martin is a frequent speaker at professional legal and business conferences on legal issues affecting the TMT industry sectors.   He has also guest lectured at several law and graduate schools, including the University of Virginia, Georgetown University, George Mason University and George Washington University.

Additional Information

Mr. Martin is the co-editor of K&L Gates blog “TMT Law Watch” which provides frequent posts and updates on legal, regulatory and business issues in the TMT sector.
  • Advised Sprint Nextel (including prior to merger with Sprint, Nextel Communications) on its multi-billion dollar strategic spectrum rebanding initiative over the course of seven years affecting public safety communications and commercial wireless operations in the United States before the FCC and other federal agencies, and in related transactions and litigation matters.
  • Counsel to Sprint Nextel in negotiating the multi-billion dollar relocation of broadcast television licensees out of 1.9 GHz band, including related procurement agreement negotiations with the major broadcast equipment suppliers.
  • Counsel to Sprint Nextel in the negotiation of vendor procurement RFPs, master services agreements and compliance counseling relating to wireless devices.
  • Counsel to professional mixed martial arts league in structuring and negotiating global content distribution agreements.
  • Counsel to leading professional wrestling entertainment company in numerous content distribution, privacy and FCC regulatory matters.
  • Counsel to a leading wireless mobile carrier in negotiating the favorable resolution of a regulatory complaint brought by a state attorney general.
  • Counsel to provider of advanced wireless broadband services in the United States on transactional and regulatory matters.
  • Counsel to Black Entertainment Television in a variety of general transactional, digital media and programming matters.
  • Counsel to wireless MVNO Helio from its founding until its subsequent sale in FCC and state regulatory, content and technology licensing and development, and transactional, and procurement matters, among other things.
  • Counsel to a search software developer and broadband services company in all federal and commercial software licensing, VAR and OEM transactions and enforcement matters.
  • Counsel to Sprint Nextel on legal matters relating to its device insurance and service warranty and repair products and services.
  • Counsel to leading smartphone and tablet manufacturer on mobile application distribution agreements.
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