Covington & Burling LLP operates as a limited liability partnership worldwide, with the practice in England and Wales conducted by an affiliated
limited liability multinational partnership, Covington & Burling LLP, which is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware in the United States
and authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 77071..
Yaron Dori has over 25 years of experience advising technology, telecommunications, media, life sciences, and other types of companies on their most pressing business challenges. He is a former chair of the firm’s technology, communications and media practices and currently serves on the firm’s eight-person Management Committee.
Yaron’s practice advises clients on strategic planning, policy development, transactions, investigations and enforcement, and regulatory compliance.
Early in his career, Yaron advised telecommunications companies and investors on regulatory policy and frameworks that led to the development of broadband networks. When those networks became bidirectional and enabled companies to collect consumer data, he advised those companies on their data privacy and consumer protection obligations. Today, as new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) are being used to enhance the applications and services offered by such companies, he advises them on associated legal and regulatory obligations and risks. It is this varied background – which tracks the evolution of the technology industry – that enables Yaron to provide clients with a holistic, 360-degree view of technology policy, regulation, compliance, and enforcement.
Yaron represents clients before federal regulatory agencies—including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Department of Commerce (DOC)—and the U.S. Congress in connection with a range of issues under the Communications Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and similar statutes. He also represents clients on state regulatory and enforcement matters, including those that pertain to telecommunications, data privacy, and consumer protection regulation. His deep experience in each of these areas enables him to advise clients on a wide range of technology regulations and key business issues in which these areas intersect.
With respect to technology and telecommunications matters, Yaron advises clients on a broad range of business, policy and consumer-facing issues, including:
Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things;
Broadband deployment and regulation;
IP-enabled applications, services and content;
Section 230 and digital safety considerations;
Equipment and device authorization procedures;
The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA);
Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) requirements;
The Cable Privacy Act
Net Neutrality; and
Local competition, universal service, and intercarrier compensation.
Yaron also has extensive experience in structuring transactions and securing regulatory approvals at both the federal and state levels for mergers, asset acquisitions and similar transactions involving large and small FCC and state communication licensees.
With respect to privacy and consumer protection matters, Yaron advises clients on a range of business, strategic, policy and compliance issues, including those that pertain to:
The FTC Act and related agency guidance and regulations;
State privacy laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act, the Colorado Privacy Act, the Connecticut Data Privacy Act, the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, and the Utah Consumer Privacy Act;
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA);
Location-based services that use WiFi, beacons or similar technologies;
Digital advertising practices, including native advertising and endorsements and testimonials; and
The application of federal and state telemarketing, commercial fax, and other consumer protection laws, such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), to voice, text, and video transmissions.
Yaron also has experience advising companies on congressional, FCC, FTC and state attorney general investigations into various consumer protection and communications matters, including those pertaining to social media influencers, digital disclosures, product discontinuance, and advertising claims.
Advising major technology company on its development, implementation and use of Artificial Intelligence in its products and services.
Advising major technology company in connection with the development of federal and state legislation pertaining to the regulation of Artificial Intelligence.
Advising large technology services provider on its global technology regulatory obligations.
Advising major life sciences company on device authorization considerations before the FCC.
Advised multiple telecommunications and technology applications and services providers on compliance with Bipartisan Secure Equipment Act of 2021 and related FCC regulations.
Advised Advent International on communications regulatory issues in connection with its $6.4 billion proposed acquisition of Maxar Technologies, a provider of comprehensive space solutions and secure, precise, geospatial intelligence.
Assisted major technology company in developing its global policy position on interoperability, data scraping, and Privacy Enhancing Technologies.
Advised national provider of integrated entertainment, sports content, and casino gaming services on state data privacy obligations.
Successfully resolved multiple individual liability enforcement matters before the Federal Trade Commission.
Routinely advise large medical device companies on their global data privacy obligations, as well as FCC equipment authorization requirements.
Routinely advise various large, Fortune 1000 companies on regulatory compliance and enforcement matters pertaining to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, including automated text message programs, and FCC robocall requirements.
Advised major telecommunications service provider in connection with broadband funding opportunities under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Advised Tower Three Partners on the sale of telecommunications carrier NTS, Inc., to Clarity Telecom, LLC.
Advised Merck on data privacy and equipment authorization issues pertaining to its multi-billion dollar acquisition of Antelliq Group.
Advised GSK on data privacy matters pertaining to its proposed collaboration with 23andMe for the use of genetic and phenotypic data to engage in various research and development activities.
Represented major technology and media companies on net neutrality policy.
Advised large and small technology companies on product discontinuance policies and associated consumer protection considerations under the FTC Act and state law.
Represented CenturyLink, Inc. on communications regulatory and national security matters in connection with its acquisition of Level 3 Communications Inc. in a transaction valued at $34 billion.
Represented Berkshire Partners LLC on communications regulatory matters in its acquisition of a majority interest in Masergy Communications, Inc., a leading global service provider of hybrid networking, managed security, and cloud communications solutions.
Resolved FTC investigation pertaining to the use of social media influencers in online marketing campaigns.
Represented Madison Dearborn Partners on communications regulatory matters in its acquisition of Intermedia.net, Inc., a leading cloud business applications provider.
Represented Altice S.A. on communications regulatory matters pertaining to its:
$17.7 billion acquisition of Cablevision Systems Corporation; and
$9.1 billion acquisition of U.S. cable, telecommunications and broadband service provider Cequel Corporation d/b/a Suddenlink.
Represented various communications and technology companies on the implementation of the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules.
Representing numerous pharmaceutical and travel companies in their appeal to the D.C. Circuit of an FCC decision pertaining to the required inclusion of an opt-out notice for consensual faxes under the TCPA.
Resolved FTC investigation into student marketing and disclosure practices by a for-profit educational institution.
Represented a large telecommunications service provider in resolving an enforcement investigation pertaining to a 911 outage.
Represented a Fortune 500 company in connection with an FTC investigation into its social media marketing practices.
Counseled a large telecommunications service provider in connection with its privacy and CPNI practices and a related FCC enforcement investigation.
Represented a major software and technology company on telecommunications regulatory matters in connection with its acquisition of an industry-leading peer-to-peer application provider.
Advised the Privacy Ombudsman to the Bankruptcy Court in the liquidation and sale of data assets held by the Borders bookstore.
Represented the steering committee of secured creditors in the restructuring of FairPoint Communications.
Advised a major private equity firm on privacy and data security matters in connection with its acquisition of a large marketing and lead generator company.
Represented several large health care providers in connection with their receipt of federal Universal Service Fund support.
Represented a private investor in its proposed acquisition of a major provider of global satellite-based telecommunication services.
Represented a telecommunications carrier in connection with universal service compliance matters, including an investigation by the U.S. Congress and the FCC.
Counseled a mobile application provider in connection with net neutrality and short code issues, including the application of Mobile Marketing Association guidelines to the client’s text message business.
Counseled a major media company on telecommunications-related privacy matters related to its development of a Mobile Virtual Network Operator affiliate.
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