After decades of guiding broadcasters through FCC rules, a top US communications law firm has suddenly closed its doors. Clients of Fletcher Heald & Hildreth were notified late last week that the firm would cease operations as of November 1.
It was confirmed to Radio Ink and partner publication RBR+TVBR that some of its attorneys are heading into retirement at year’s end, while two media lawyers have already started over at a new practice this week.
The firm, which dates to 1935, served as legal counsel to more than 1,500 broadcast radio and television stations, state and local governments, and cable TV companies, among other clients, with practice areas spanning media, intellectual property, telecommunications, technical innovation, government relations, and internet law.
Among the firm’s attorneys were Matt McCormick, a now-retired co-Managing Member, and retired attorney Peter Tannenwald, an advocate for low-power television stations.
Kathleen Victory and Frank Montero are retiring at the end of the year. Montero represents Spanish-language broadcast licensees across the continental US and Puerto Rico. A staple of Radio Ink events, he is set to moderate “Broadcast on the Docket: Power, Policy, and Pressure in Washington” at Forecast 2027.
Seth Williams, who joined FHH in November 2018 and previously clerked for former Acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn and the FCC’s Audio Division, began work Monday at Scale LLP alongside colleague Adam Sandler. Sandler, a communications and media attorney with more than 20 years of experience who shares a name with the actor and comedian, joined FHH as Counsel in June.
The pair join a Washington, D.C.-based team of approximately 15 attorneys at Scale LLP. The firm has had a governmental affairs practice, including attorneys Allison Rule and Michael Donahue, who came aboard in April. Both Williams and Sandler are looking forward to providing services to clients in the broadcast space.
