WRF's Communications Practice and Richard Wiley Receive Top Honors; Lawrence Secrest, Andrew McBride Named Leading Lawyers

June 8, 2006

Washington, DC-Wiley Rein & Fielding's Communications Practice and its chair, Richard E. Wiley, have again received top honors in the annual ratings of Washington, DC legal practices by Chambers USA: Leading Lawyers for Business.  Media Group chair Lawrence W. Secrest, III and Communications Litigation Group chair Andrew G. McBride also are recognized as "Leading Lawyers" in their fields.  Rankings are based on extensive interviews with firm clients, colleague and peers. 

Clients praised the firm's extensive regulatory and litigation expertise, noting that it is "one of the primary communications firms in the city" with "one of the largest FCC regulatory practices in town."  Extolling the group's deep bench strength as well as its leadership, clients told Chambers that the firm "obviously has the franchise, has a huge stable of good attorneys across the board, and no one could ever hold a candle to Dick Wiley for lobbying and salesmanship." 

Wiley, recipient of the inaugural Chambers Award for Excellence for his telecommunications regulatory work, was lauded by competitors as "the king of the DC communications bar," "a lion in the field" and "one of the hardest-working men around."  He is praised for his "extremely hands-on" attitude and his ability "to preserve his standing with the Commission even through changes of administration and Commission staff."  Ultimately, Chambers notes, Wiley is "worth any accolade you give him."

Leading lawyer Lawrence Secrest is commended for his wide breadth of work advising clients on regulations governing broadcasters, cable and satellite television and other electronic media.  Andrew McBride, an experienced litigator with significant trial, appellate and Supreme Court experience in the areas of communications, Internet services, administrative law and constitutional law, "won praise from peers for his telecom litigation expertise in particular."

In compiling the Chambers USA guide, researchers from London-based Chambers and Partners evaluate law firms and attorneys on several factors, including: technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by clients.