Michael Senkowski

Partner

Co-Chair, US Telecom Practice
Co-Chair, Global Telecom Regulatory Practice

Emailmichael.senkowski@us.dlapiper.com

Call+1 202.799.4103

Washington, DC

About

For more than 50 years, Mike has represented both startup entrepreneurs and industry leaders in telephony, wireless, international, and Internet issues. He has handled hundreds of telecommunications transactions, ranging from small deals to five of the largest telecom mergers in history, including T-Mobile’s merger with Sprint. He has engaged in virtually all aspects of telephony issues resulting from the Telecommunications Act of 1996. He also advises clients on broadcast mergers and issues, including one of the largest TV transactions of all time.

Mike is highly experienced in spectrum allocation and wireless policy issues for both service providers and manufacturers. He is experienced in the full range of advocacy venues important to telecom decision making. Businesses turn to him when they are facing investigations of compliance forfeiture proceedings.

Mike has been internationally recognized throughout his distinguished career. He is singled out as a "Leading Lawyer" by Chambers USA, which has noted that clients praise him as "a highly experienced regulatory lawyer and an exceptionally creative master strategist”, "one of the lions of the practice," and as someone who "knows more about the FCC, both at a procedural and substantive level, than any lawyer in the USA." The Legal 500 US hails his influence in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and public policy matters; notes Mike “is adept in wireless policy and spectrum allocation, and has cleared some of the biggest transactions in the industry”; and clients told this directory that the "knowledgeable, well-connected" Mike is "an encyclopedia on telecom law" whose "savvy and awareness of legal and political issues make him a real asset to the practice,'' "unbeatable if you're looking for guidance on an FCC issue.

Mike has represented both startup entrepreneurs and industry leaders in telephony, wireless, international, and Internet issues. He has handled hundreds of telecommunications transactions, ranging from small deals to five of the largest telecom mergers in history, including T-Mobile’s merger with Sprint. He also advises clients on broadcast mergers and issues, including one of the largest TV transactions of all time.

With respect to global telecom, Mike is head of a AKD Partners team of lawyers, regulatory advisors and engineers handling projects in over 100 countries around the world. He serves as the project lead for the deployment of global satellite systems as well as telecom and tech companies putting new services and devices into the global stream of commerce. He also has been active in the deployment of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, including service on Federal Aviation Administration advisory committees with respect to identification and tracking systems and briefing NASA on spectrum issues.

Areas of FocusMedia, Sport and Entertainment Telecoms Space Exploration and Innovation

Bar admissionsDistrict of Columbia

CourtsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

EXPERIENCE

Awards

Chambers USA

Band 1, District of Columbia Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite, (2007 – 2018, 2021 – 2025)
Band 2, District of Columbia Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite, (2019 – 2020)

The Legal 500 United States

Hall of Fame, Telecoms & Broadcast: Transactional, (2025)
Hall of Fame, Telecoms & Broadcast: Regulatory, (2020 – 2025)
Leading Lawyer, Telecoms & Broadcast: Transactional, (2020 – 2024)
Leading Lawyer, Telecoms & Broadcast: Regulatory, (2018)
Recommended, Technology: Transactions, (2019 – 2020)
Recommended, Telecoms & Broadcast: Transactional, (2017 – 2019)
Recommended, Telecoms & Broadcast: Regulatory, (2019, 2017)

Additional Awards

Named one of the Best Lawyers in America® for his work in Communications Law by BestLawyers.com, (2018 – 2020)
Named one of DC's "Top 100 Lawyers" (2012 – 2013) and "Super Lawyers" for Communications (2008 – 2018, Corporate Counsel Edition, August 2008) by Super Lawyers magazine
Named one of "Washington's Best Lawyers" (2011, 2013) and one of "Washington's Top Lawyers" (2007, 2009) by Washingtonian magazine
Included in Legal Media Group's Expert Guides: Guide to the World's Leading Telecommunications Lawyers, (2011)
Named a pre-eminent telecommunications practitioner by Legal Media Group's Expert Guides: Guide to the World's Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Lawyers, (2010)
Included in Legal Media Group's Expert Guides: Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers—Best of the Best USA, (2009)
Named by Lawdragon as one of "500 Leading Lawyers in America," (2007-2008, 2010 – 2011)
Rated in the top tier of regulatory communications attorneys by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, which notes that his high degree of specialization and 'in depth knowledge of the industry' contributes to his reputation as 'one of the best around' "Both he and the firm were described by a competitor as "very good—a high-class outfit," (2005 – 2013)
Recipient of the American Red Cross' prestigious Circle of Humanitarians Award in recognition of his and the firm's assistance in obtaining the phone number 1-800-RED-CROSS, (2007)
AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell's highest ranking by peers for general ethical standards and legal ability
OSTP-White House “Future of Drones” Workshop Facilitator
NASA Spectrum for Unmanned Aircraft Traffic Management Presenter
FAA Drone Advisory Committee subject matter expert on state/local legal issues
FAA UAS Identification and Tracking Advisory Committee member