Mr. Klein maintains a national communications practice, representing communications companies in a variety of regulatory, interconnection, litigation, contract and homeland security matters, in Court and in proceedings before both the state public utility commissions and the Federal Communications Commission.
Klein has authored a chapter in the recently published book "Inside the Minds: Telecom Settlements & Negotiations." Over the past few years, he has spoken at conferences, seminars and regulatory conventions across the United States, addressing the keys to regulatory success, effective Performance Assurance Plans, the negotiation of interconnection agreements, and other significant policy issues.
Bringing his extensive state commission experience to the nation’s capitol, Mr. Klein assists clients in developing and advocating positions on issues that are national in scope but local in effect.
Klein also represents clients in commercial litigation, including intercarrier disputes, theft of trade secrets and e-discovery issues. Mr. Klein also assists clients in mediation and arbitration proceedings, provides advice to clients on strategic planning and policy issues, and negotiates intercarrier, end user and transactional agreements. On the regulatory side, Andy participates in key policymaking proceedings, that have in the past addressed, for example, access to Network Elements, broadband funding, intercarrier compensation, VoIP, Section 271 compliance, carrier metrics and performance assurance.
Before coming to Washington, D.C., in 2000, Mr. Klein served as Session Counsel to the New York Public Service Commission, where he reviewed and coordinated all session items presented for consideration in each of the five industries regulated by the commission. He worked closely with the Chairman of the commission to develop and implement pro-competitive policies, and to ensure consistency with the goals of the agency in key areas such as local exchange competition, broadband deployment, cable regulation, BPL and energy deregulation. Klein also conducted director-level meetings to coordinate commission sessions and brief commissioners on the items under consideration.
Prior to being appointed Session Counsel, Mr. Klein led the review of Verizon’s compliance with the market-opening mandates of Section 271 of the Telecom Act of 1996, implementing policies to facilitate local exchange and broadband competition. He negotiated and drafted the landmark Section 271 Pre-filing Statement, conducted weeks of hearings, and was instrumental in the creation and development of the Post-271 Performance Assurance Plan. Mr. Klein also served as counsel to the PSC team reviewing the Bell Atlantic/NYNEX merger, and coordinated Telecom Act implementation with attorneys at the FCC, U.S. Department of Justice, and other state commissions.
Prior to launching Klein Law Group early in 2006, Klein was with DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, one of the largest law firms in the world with over 3,000 attorneys in 50+ offices worldwide. Before joining DLA Piper, Klein was associated with Kelley Drye & Warren, a NYC-based firm that had one of the largest law firm telecom practices.
Klein is a 1992 graduate of Albany Law School of Union University, and received undergraduate degrees in Economics and Government from Clark University. Klein is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. Supreme Court.
