Covington & Burling LLP | Practices, Industries & Regions

Covington’s transactional experience in the communications and media sectors spans the full breadth of these industries and is global in scope. The firm’s work ranges from mergers and acquisitions for traditional media, such as newspapers and broadcasters, to innovative transactions for new media companies, such as content licensing via wireless devices, joint ventures bringing together digital content and broadband portals, and spectrum clearing agreements. In addition to representing established and multi-national media and communications companies, we also represent funds and other investors evaluating and developing commercial opportunities in these areas; work with new entrants to the media and communications industries; and provide strategic business advice to non-media clients who are evaluating valuable content or distribution opportunities created by changes in technology, law or the marketplace.

The firm’s corporate and transactional capabilities in this space draw on our interdisciplinary approach, the scope of our client relationships, and our lawyers’ broad deal experience in the US -- on both coasts and across the country -- and in Europe and Asia. Our lawyers combine a highly-developed approach to complex transactions with a deep understanding of current and emerging industry, regulatory and business issues unique to the communications and media sectors. Covington’s distinct, integrated and interdisciplinary approach continues to put us at the center of cutting-edge industry communications and media transactions.

Representative Matters

QUALCOMM in its United Kingdom acquisitions of Trigenix, a mobile-user interface company, and Elata (Holdings) Limited, a global leader in mobile content delivery software.
Raycom Media in its acquisition of 15 television stations from Liberty Media and subsequent divestiture of certain stations.
Banc of America Capital Investors in connection with its participation in the consortium of funds acquiring Univision Communications.
Barrington Broadcasting in its formation with Pilot Group, L.P., and its subsequent station acquisitions.
LIN TV Corp. in connection with a series of credit facilities aggregating in the amount of $900 million, as well as in a $175 million offering of unsecured debt securities underwritten by leading investment banks.
Radio One in a private placement of $200 million 6.375% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013.

Accolades

Ranked by Chambers USA as a leading Communications Finance practice in 2006.
Ranked by Chambers USA as a leading Corporate practice in 2006.
Ranked by Chambers USA as a leading Communications practice in 2004-2007.
Ranked by Chambers USA as leading Media and Entertainment practice in 2006-2007.
Ranked by Practical Law Company as a leading Communications practice in 2005-2006.
Our partners have significant experience outside of the practice - for example, on Capitol Hill, where they were deeply involved in the development of telecommunications legislation, and in the executive suites of major and highly visible media companies.
Our partners have over the years held leadership positions in major associations in the media field - including the Federal Communications Bar Association, the International Radio and Television Society Foundation, the Media Institute and the Media Law Resource Center.