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Michael Hazzard

Michael B. Hazzard

Partner
About

Mike Hazzard represents global infrastructure, software, and telecommunications companies in a broad range of cross-border and multi-jurisdictional commercial, regulatory, and transactional matters.

Mike has been involved in numerous infrastructure asset carve-out and partnering transactions involving all kinds of communications networks, including data centers, fiber networks, LEO satellites (including 5G D2D NTN), tower infrastructure, undersea cables, and various forms of wireless networks. He also represents OTT and SAS platforms. Mike has led substantial Vendor Due Diligence works streams regarding commercial, legal, and regulatory matters associated with infrastructure assets. For buyers, he has conducted affirmative due diligence on infrastructure assets, regulatory compliance, and key commercial and carrier agreements.

Mike's transactional experience extends throughout the Americas, APAC, CIS, Europe, and MENA regions. He develops and negotiates commercial agreements for infrastructure owners, network operators, service providers, equipment manufacturers, and enterprises. Mike counsels global companies on Sanctions, Anti-Bribery, Anti-Money Laundering, and Know Your Customer matters, including the development of market entry and market exit strategies in compliance with such obligations.

Along with his transactional work, Mike secures regulatory approvals from the FCC, Team Telecom, and various other federal and state agencies as necessary.

Teaming with DLA Piper lawyers world-wide, Mike works with companies in their expansion and transactional efforts across the globe. He similarly has assisted companies entering the US market, where he has deep experience with many regulatory and consumer protection regimes, including the California Consumer Protection Act, the Communications Act, the Electronic Consumer Privacy Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Red Flag Rule, and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, among others.

Mike also maintains an active litigation docket, and he has deep experience as lead litigation counsel. He defends businesses in government actions and consumer class actions, primarily regarding technology, data privacy, and consumer marketing matters. He also represents companies in government-plaintiff actions and federal and state agency investigations, including investigations initiated by the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and state public service and consumer protection agencies.

Mike has successfully defended and defeated numerous consumer class actions. He has particular expertise in Telephone Consumer Protection Act matters, as well as cases brought under the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Communications Act, and numerous other federal and state consumer protection and privacy laws. He has defended actions in over 20 district courts, argued seven federal appeals before the Third, Fourth, Ninth, and District of Columbia Circuits, and defended clients before dozens of federal and state agencies.

Bar admissionsDistrict of ColumbiaVirginia
CourtsUnited States District Court for the District of ColumbiaUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

EXPERIENCE

Representative experience as lead litigation counsel includes the following:

  • Kovalev v. CityLife et al. (EDPA 2022) (obtained voluntary dismissal with prejudice)
  • Shields v. Twilio (SDTX 2020) (obtained voluntary dismissal)
  • Bauman v. Saxe et al. (DNV 2020) (obtained voluntary dismissal)
  • Adzhikosyan v. CallFire (CDCA 2019) (won motion to dismiss)
  • Wigod v. CallFire (CDCA 2019) (obtained voluntary dismissal with prejudice)
  • Wick v. Twilio (WDWA 2017) (won motion to dismiss)
  • Payton v. VoiceShot (NDIL 2016) (won summary judgment)
  • Kauffman v. CallFire (SDCA 2015) (won summary judgment; defeated class certification)
  • Rinky Dink, Inc. v. EMS (WDWA 2015) (won summary judgment)
  • Glauser v. Twilio (NDCA 2014) (obtained voluntary dismissal with prejudice)
  • Mendez v. C-Two Group (NDCA 2014) (won motion to dismiss)
  • Rutherford v. Zoom Tan (MDFL 2013) (won motion to dismiss)
  • U.S. v. Skyy Consulting (NDCA 2013) (favorably settled FTC action)
  • Paetec Communications v. CommPartners (DDC 2010) (won motion for summary judgment)
Education
  • J.D., George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Law
  • B.A., University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Awards

The Legal 500 United States

  • Next Generation Partner, Telecoms & Broadcast: Transactional (2024)
  • Recommended, Telecoms & Broadcast: Transactional (2023)

Pro Bono

Mike maintains an active pro bono docket.  He has represented pro bono clients in a variety of matters, including asylum, housing, immigration, and social security disability.

Seminars

  • Panelist – Legal Confidential, Mobile Ecosystem Forum (March 21, 2023)
  • Panelist, Access Partnership Webinar – The New European Electronic Communications Code and Technology Companies – Will Your Services Be Regulated? (October 1, 2020)
  • Panelist, Access Partnership Webinar  Innovative Communications Technologies, Like OTT, Are the Future – Do Regulators Realize? (July 15, 2020)
  • Panelist, DLA Piper Webinar, Global Telecom and Taxation (June 18, 2020)

Civic and Charitable

Mike maintains an active pro bono docket. He has represented pro bono clients in a variety of matters, including asylum, housing, immigration, and social security disability.

Mike presently represents a former Afghanistan judge and her family members in asylum proceedings. He won an asylum grant for a Salvadoran family after a three-day hearing before and Immigration Judge. Mike also won a Social Security disability benefits appeal for a mentally disabled adult, who lost his caretaker parents. The Social Security disability benefits secured enabled his client to remain in a Washington D.C. group home for similar adults, who cannot otherwise live on their own. Mike has also made multiple trips to the Southern border to work with migrants held in U.S. detention facilities.

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