Wiley Rein LLP

Founded in 1983 with 39 attorneys, Wiley has grown to be a big player in the nation’s capital, with more than 240 attorneys who practice in over a dozen areas of law. Best known for its Telecom, Media, & Technology group, the firm’s other major practices include insurance, government contracts, election law, international trade, and litigation.

Mastery of DC

Wiley was founded in Washington, DC, by two attorneys with deep roots in the nation’s capital: Bert Rein—a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs—and Richard Wiley—former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Noted for its expertise in communications, media, government affairs, and political law, Wiley counts among its ranks many prominent DC attorneys who have held high-level positions in the White House, on Capitol Hill, and in federal agencies.

The firm represents a wide range of clients—from Fortune 500 corporations to trade associations to individuals—in myriad industries, including energy, manufacturing, defense, aerospace, intelligence, information technology, professional services, telecommunications, health care, A&E, and construction. Clients include AT&T, The Boeing Company, Chubb, UPS, Verizon, and Sirius/XM, among others.

Communications, Carriers, & Contracts

Wiley’s lawyers work across 18 main practices, advising Fortune 100 companies, nonprofits, small and midsize organizations, and trade associations—among other clients. Consistently ranked by Chambers USA in its top tier, Wiley’s Telecom, Media & Technology group handles the full scope of telecommunications, wireless, litigation, international, satellite, and media issues from headline-setting, billion-dollar mergers to business disputes, as well as regulatory and legislative matters. 

Wiley is a “go-to” firm for insurance carriers facing high-profile disputes and novel legal challenges. One of the most prominent insurer-side practices in the country, Wiley represents clients in professional liability, cyber, general liability, “bad faith,” and appellate matters throughout all 50 states. The firm has been recognized for its successful representation of insurers on complicated and high-exposure matters, including recognition for the Insurance Practice in Law360’s Practice Groups of the Year in 2023.

Wiley has built one of the largest government contracts practices in the nation. Over the years, the group has represented more than 400 top government contractors—including a third of the top 100 biggest government contractors—as well as small businesses and entities performing their first government contracts. The practice group is consistently ranked by Chambers USA in the top tier of the nation’s government contracts practices and has previously been named Law360’s Government Contracts Practice Group of the Year.

Flashing Its Signal

Putting its politics, government, and communications experience to good use, Wiley acquired SIGNAL Group (formerly McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC) in 2014, a lobbying and consulting agency that counts the likes of Microsoft, Intel, American Airlines, and FedEx among its clients.

• Best Law Firms for Women, 2022—Seramount
• Tipping the Scales, 2022—Diversity & Flexibility Alliance
• Law Firm Diversity Award, 2022—Dell Technologies
• Compass Award, 2022—Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity
• Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality, 2022—Human Rights Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index