Telecommunications Law Professionals

Ashley joined TLP as an Associate Attorney in August 2020. She assists telecommunications clients on a wide array of transactional, regulatory, and compliance issues before the Federal Communications Commission and state and local regulatory entities. Ashley advises clients on a variety of FCC rulemaking proceedings, monitors and informs clients of updates to relevant proceedings, and assists with drafting and filing responses to the FCC. She is well versed in several of the FCC’s databases, including the Licensing Management System, Universal Licensing System, and CORES. In addition, Ashley has substantial legal research and writing experience, which she utilizes to advocate for clients before the FCC and other regulatory bodies. Ashley is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School, where she was a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association Journal. During law school, Ashley held a number of judicial internships at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the District of Columbia Superior Court, granting her experience in a variety of legal topics, including contracts, property, general civil law, and judicial procedure. Prior to joining TLP, Ashley clerked for the Honorable Robert R. Rigsby on the District of Columbia Superior Court, where she gained extensive experience in civil procedure, legal research and writing, and civil litigation.

Carl Northrop is the Founding Member of TLP. He consistently is recognized in client and peer reviews as one of the top communications attorneys in the country. Chambers USA identifies him as a “Notable Practitioner” in the Telecom, Media and Satellite specialty; The Legal 500 has identified Carl as a “Leading Lawyer” in the Technology and Broadcasting Regulatory practice for over a decade, and he was one of a small group of attorneys inducted into the inaugural Legal 500 US Hall of Fame for having received consistent praise for legal excellence. Carl has been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in both corporate law and communications law by U.S News and World Report. He received the prestigious Paul R. Dean award for legal excellence awarded by the Georgetown University Law Center to a distinguished alumnus. And, for over 25 years, Carl has received the AV Preeminent rating in Martindale-Hubbell peer reviews. Carl represents communications service providers and advises suppliers of goods and services to the telecommunications industry including financiers, tower and site owners, manufacturers, billing and support service providers, and developers of advanced technologies. He also counsels purchasers in major contracts for communications services, and has acted both as an arbitrator and as an expert witness in various disputes arising out of communications contracts. Ever since the advent of cellular service in the 1980s, Carl has represented clients in the acquisition, development, financing, licensing, construction, and operation of both wireless and terrestrial broadband systems. He also has advised governmental entities on communications policy issues. Carl is an experienced litigator who handles high stakes telecommunications disputes before courts, administrative agencies, arbitrators and mediators. He also is a skillful negotiator with a sophisticated understanding of the communications business which enables him to craft creative contractual arrangements to the benefit of TLP clients.

Dennis arrived at TLP in January 2017. A graduate of Harvard College and Georgetown Law, Dennis was previously a longtime member and head of the Broadcast Practice Group at the well-regarded communications law firm Lerman Senter PLLC. At TLP, Dennis handles diverse regulatory and transactional matters, ranging from day-to-day client representation to participation in multiple agency and court proceedings involving issues of industry-wide concern. Dennis also handles major administrative and court litigation, and FCC Enforcement Bureau proceedings, for a wide variety of clients. Dennis’ many cases have involved broadcast issues such as sponsorship identification, indecency, political advertising, and renewal-related matters, as well as wireless issues that range across such matters as innovative uses of spectrum bands, drones and drone accessory equipment, and spectrum auctions. He made the petitioner’s oral argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in a case that secured the set aside of certain FCC rules restricting the practical ability of small businesses to utilize bidding credits in spectrum auctions. Council Tree Communications, Inc. v. FCC, 619 F.3d 235 (3rd Cir. 2010). Dennis has long been active in the Federal Communications Bar Association. At various times, he has co-chaired the FCBA’s Enforcement, Mass Media, and (former) Access to Records Committees. He has also twice served on the FCBA’s Executive Committee, including a current two-year stint that comes with his service as the FCBA’s voting representative within the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates.

With over fifteen years of experience, Emily represents and advises communications companies on a variety of regulatory, policy, and compliance matters. She has aided clients, large and small, in successfully navigating communications-related issues at the federal and state level, including numerous rulemaking proceedings. Emily’s practice is focused on wireline, broadband, and wireless issues. She has represented clients in multi-year rulemaking proceedings regarding the Universal Service Fund, intercarrier compensation, emergency calling, rural call completion, and business data services. Emily also has advised numerous clients on wide-ranging accessibility issues, including the regulatory obligations that apply to providers of Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) and requirements related to the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. In addition, Emily has counseled a number of clients on mergers and licensing matters. For example, Emily has aided many companies in filing and advocating for proposed transactions at both the federal and state level. She also has assisted multiple companies in successfully completing foreign ownership reviews. Emily’s work is focused on shaping advocacy strategy, drafting key filings on complex regulatory matters, and aiding companies in creating and implementing compliance plans. She is well-regarded for the depth of knowledge she possesses about a broad range of proceedings. Clients also regularly note her thoughtful and responsive approach to the attorney-client relationship.

Gregg Skall is a veteran telecom lawyer who advises broadcasters and telecommunications companies in their FCC regulatory matters and their business dealings. Gregg has also represented real estate developers in the acquisition of competitive broadband and telecommunications services for new residential and commercial developments. He also works with telecommunications equipment manufacturers to obtain FCC approvals and to assure regulatory compliance. Gregg assists companies in need of appropriate spectrum support for emerging telecommunications products and has been recognized by the National Journal as a leading radio spectrum lobbyist in Washington. Gregg also has orchestrated scores of transactions involving FCC regulated companies with assets worth many millions of dollars. He has organized coalitions to obtain major policy changes before the FCC and supervised the formation of an international joint venture for a nationwide data network. Gregg has served on the U.S. Department of State Advisory Committee on International Communications & Information Policy, and on the Pike and Fischer Communications Regulation Advisory Board from its formation until its merger with Bloomberg BNA. He is a past chair of the Federal Bar Association Regulated Industries Committee and past co-chair of the Federal Communications Bar Association, Professional Responsibility Committee. Gregg is a recognized writer and frequent speaker on topics of FCC administrative process, media and telecommunications regulation, and has taught Telecommunications Law and Policy at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He is communications counsel several state broadcaster associations and a frequent column contributor to industry newsletters. In government, Gregg served as Acting General Counsel in the White House Office of Telecommunications Policy, Chief Counsel of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and attorney advisor at the Federal Communications Commission. Gregg has been listed for multiple years in the Washington Post editions of Legal Leaders of Washington, in Top Rated Lawyers of Washington DC, in Super Lawyers for Washington D.C., in a number of editions of Who’s Who, and has been rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbel, a peer rating for the highest level of professional excellence and ethical standards. Gregg is a graduate of Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati School of Law where he studied under Dean Roscoe Barrow, primary author of the seminal study Network Broadcasting, commissioned by the U.S. Senate in the late 1950s and known as the Barrow Report.

Jessica Gyllstrom joined TLP as an Associate Attorney when the firm first opened its doors in 2011 and was promoted to Member in 2018. She regularly represents mobile wireless carriers, broadband internet service providers, VoIP providers, broadcasters and tower companies before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other federal and state agencies. Jessica’s practice areas include a broad range of regulatory, policy and transactional telecommunications and media matters, including privacy and CPNI, spectrum acquisition, radio and television broadcast reporting, ownership reporting obligations, e911 and WEA requirements, CVAA considerations, RDOF and the Universal Service Fund, and other broadband-related matters. She has extensive experience in overseeing the regulatory aspects of major merger transactions, including preparing responses to interrogatory and document requests, complying with confidentiality protective orders, communicating with FCC staff and securing the approval of Team Telecom and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Jessica also frequently appears on industry panels to discuss spectrum and broadband-related issues and other breaking developments in communications. Jessica’s transactional work largely involves the drafting and negotiation of complex submarine and terrestrial fiber optic cable system arrangements, both within the United States and internationally. These agreements often involve complex issues such as access rights, international considerations, equipment purchases, and maintenance services. Jessica also devotes time to many of TLP’s pro bono projects including work on adoption, custody and healthcare matters.

Managing Member