Richards, David George

David G. Richards is of Counsel with the Atlanta office of Kitchens New Cleghorn LLC, and f focuses his law practice in the areas of corporate and business issues with a concentration in advising telecommunications clients concerning federal and state regulatory issues, mandate compliance, spectrum auctions and FCC license transfers and assignments.

Since joining The Richards Law Firm, L.L.C., in January 2006, David Richards has counseled various clients on federal and state regulatory issues and mandates impacting telecommunications and information service providers. His work with the firm has included advising BellSouth Corporation concerning the transfer of its organic wireless assets as part of the BellSouth-AT&T merger in 2006 and being engaged as an expert witness in federal district court litigation. As Of Counsel to Kitchens New Cleghorn LLC, Mr. Richards counsels that firm's clients on a broad range of regulatory issues arising under the Communications Act of 1934, the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and state regulatory bodies.

He left his position as Chief Counsel-Federal Regulatory at Cingular Wireless LLC at the end of 2005. While there, Mr. Richards was instrumental in obtaining FCC approval of numerous transactions including Cingular's $41 billion acquisition of AT&T Wireless Services and its $1.4 billion purchase of NextWave spectrum. He has over 20 years of experience as in-house counsel with wireless companies ranging from a cellular start-up to one of today's largest wireless providers. With those companies, he advised his clients on all aspects of FCC and state regulatory issues and compliance and federal and state legislation impacting wireless providers in addition to participating in numerous FCC proceedings, spectrum auctions and appellate matters.

At the start of his legal career, Mr. Richards spent 10 years at the FCC handling legal and regulatory issues concerning the mass media, wireless and domestic and international wireline industries. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Notre Dame Law School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Richards is a member of the board of the Sole Practitioner/Small Firm Section of the Atlanta Bar Association; he has chaired or co-chaired its yearly Law Office Technology Seminar since its inception. He retired from the United States Marine Corps Reserve having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.