Abraham Shanedling: Sheppard Mullin

Overview

Abraham Shanedling is an associate in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm’s Communications Team.

Areas of Practice

Abraham represents clients in complex litigation and technical regulatory matters, including communications regulatory issues and disputes for communications sector clients. He represents clients before federal and state trial and appellate courts across the country as well as federal and state administrative agencies. His matters have ranged from multi-district products liability litigation and commercial disputes to government investigations and enforcement actions.

Abraham represents cable operators and other broadband providers in matters involving communications law issues. This includes issues related to municipal franchising (including franchise renewal and transfers of control), franchise fees, fees in support of Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) channels, institutional networks, access to rights-of-way, pole attachments, infrastructure deployment and a host of related issues.

Outside of his business trial practice, Abraham serves on the firm's Pro Bono Committee and is actively involved in various pro bono matters in Washington, D.C. and across the country.

Abraham previously served as a law clerk for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary and as a legal intern in the Office of the Chief Counsel of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Aside from his practice, he is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches a course on Legal Research, Analysis and Writing.

Experience

Representative Matters:

Successfully represented national cable operator at Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and Southern District of Indiana in case affirming that Section 621 of the federal Cable Act authorizes cable operators’ compatible use of easements dedicated to utility purposes. See West v. Louisville Gas & Elec. Co. et al, No. 4:16-cv-00145RLYTAB, 2018 WL 321686 (S.D. Ind. Jan. 8, 2018), appeal dismissed, 920 F.3d 499 (7th Cir. 2019), and aff'd sub nom. No. 19-2442, 2020 WL 995774 (7th Cir. Mar. 2, 2020)
Pursued and conducted all phases of litigation in multiple state and federal actions across the country
Represents clients from across the country and in different industries in commercial litigation matters
Advises clients on compliance with telecommunications regulations
Represents a broad coalition of cable providers in pole attachment rulemaking proceedings before the Maine Public Utilities Commissions
Represented national cable operator in obtaining unanimous victory before the Texas Supreme Court regarding uniform pole attachment rate and anti-discrimination requirements in the Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act. Time Warner Cable Texas LLC v. CPS Energy, No. 17-0840, --- S.W.3d ---, 2019 WL 2147257 (Tex. May 17, 2019)
Secured dismissal of all claims brought against government defense/robotics contractor for defamation, tortious interference with contractual relationships, civil conspiracy and unfair competition. Robo-Team NA, Inc. v. Endeavor Robotics, 313 F. Supp. 3d 19 (D.D.C. 2018)
Successfully represented the Louisiana Cable & Telecommunications Association in negotiating settlement of claims brought by electric utility company before the Louisiana Public Service Commission regarding pole attachment rental rates. See In re: Complaint and Petition for Declaratory Ruling on Proper Formula for the Pole Attachment Rental Rate Under Louisiana Public Service Commission Order Dated September 4, 2014, Docket No. U-34688 (La. Pub. Serv. Comm’n filed 2017)
Represented national cable operator in defeating a request for a temporary restraining order and a motion to remand, and securing voluntary dismissal of breach of contract action brought by landowner in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. See Smalley v. Charter Commc’ns Holding Co., LLC, 2017 WL 7520467 (N.D. Tex. Apr. 10, 2017); 2017 WL 2335518 (N.D. Tex. May 26, 2017)