By: Laura Phillips
Lee Petro is a Member of Dickinson Wright PLLC. He is a former President of the FCBA (2018-2019), a former Chair of the FCBA Foundation (2007-2008), and a recipient of the FCBA’s Distinguished Service Award. He represents broadcasters, wireless companies, consumer product and industrial manufacturers before the FCC, FTC, and state public utility commissions. I have practiced law with Lee and worked with him on various FCBA matters over the years, so it was great to have the chance to connect and reflect a bit on his career and perspectives.
Q. What attracted you to the field of communications?
A. I fell into communications law when I was searching for a paralegal job in 1993. I moved to DC after graduating from Michigan State University with the goal of working on the Hill. A family friend was a local lawyer, and he let me use his 900-page, hard-bound DC edition of Martindale Hubbell to develop a list of lawyers in DC with Greek last names or MSU alums. After sending out 200+ resumes with cover letters addressed to “Dear Fellow Greek-American” or “Dear Fellow Spartan”, I was hired by Ann Farhat, an MSU alum at Bechtel & Cole, to monitor the FCC’s public reference rooms and pull applications and pleadings. At the same time, I started applying to law schools and became aware of the Institute for Communications Law Studies at Catholic University Law School. I continued working at Bechtel & Cole during law school and enjoyed the interplay of technology, public policy, and law. Professor Harvey Zuckman often said that he had never met an unhappy Communications lawyer, and I wholeheartedly agree. The Institute is now known as the Law and Technology Institute, and I am happy to give back by co-chairing the FCBA committee that drafts the problem for its annual National Telecommunications and Technology Moot Court Competition.
Q. Tell us about the various places you’ve worked through the years.
A. I’ve stayed in private practice my entire career. My first post-law school position was at Pepper & Corazzini, where I worked mostly on broadcast matters. After a short stint at Gardner Carton & Douglas, I moved to Fletcher Heald & Hildreth as a mid-level associate and ultimately became a partner. After subsequent stops at Drinker Biddle & Reath, and Pillsbury Winthrop, I joined Dickinson Wright two years ago. It was a bit of a homecoming in a way as Dickinson has a major presence in Michigan, and ironically, I used to deliver airplane tickets to the firm’s downtown Detroit office in the 1980s as a courier for my aunt’s travel agency. I am glad that the Firm has maintained a strong “Midwest Nice” tradition even as it expanded with offices across the US and Canada.
Q. Have things unfolded in your career more or less the way you planned?
A. Yes and no. Two quotes from Stephen Covey (author of the 7 Habits series of books) have largely guided my career – “Begin with the End in Mind” and “Airplanes are off course at least 90% of the trip.” So, I’m still practicing communications law after 29 years as I originally planned, but there have certainly been some unplanned cross-breezes and turbulence, plus tremendous technological changes. When I started practicing, almost all forms of communications were in analog, and you could still get an AOL membership disc at your local Blockbuster. So, a lot has changed, but I’m still a communications attorney. I’ve been fortunate to catch a few of the technology waves and built a diverse practice that has evolved with the times.
Q. What’s the most interesting or challenging thing that you’ve done in your current position?
A. For the past 17 years, I have worked on efforts by the FCC and various states to establish permanent rate caps on telephone and video calls from correctional facilities, first as pro bono counsel to the family members that originally brought a lawsuit in 2000, and now as outside counsel for one of the service providers. The issue involves so many layers of public policy, technological challenges, and difficult legal issues that continue to be dealt with at the FCC, federal courts, and before several state public utilities commissions.
Q. Is or was there something interesting or someone who surprised or impressed you during your career and why?
A. Without question, I am consistently amazed by the unique role that the FCBA plays in our corner of the legal industry. I was able to serve as the FCBA liaison to the DC Bar voluntary bar association committee several years ago, and it was clear to me that the breadth of educational, social, and community service opportunities available to FCBA members went far beyond the offerings of other associations in the area. The Young Lawyers Committee deserves much credit for recruiting new FCBA members and offering the opportunity to develop skills that spur their professional development, as does the four-person FCBA staff led by Kerry Loughney that makes it all happen.
Q. What do you enjoy reading?
A. I prefer either science fiction or historical nonfiction. When my daughters were young, we had a house rule that we had to read the book before we saw the movie or TV version. So, many nights were spent on Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones. Even though we are now empty nesters, the rule still applies, so I recently wrapped up The Three-Body Problem, the Silo trilogy, and Project Hail Mary.
Q. Is there something (a hobby or other tidbit) people don’t know about you that you are willing to share?
A. My main hobby – Golf – is probably known through the years I spent serving on the FCBA Golf Committee. I still consider myself to be a Displaced Michigander, so I follow the Detroit teams and the Michigan State Spartans. My other main (some family members would say, singular) interest is the band Rush. I went to my first concert in 1982 and have seen them during almost every tour they’ve made since. In 1991, I was able to go bowling with the band and roadies, with the lead singer and his son in the lane next to us. Currently, I’m in the middle of an intensive three-month air drumming training program in advance of their two concerts at Capital One Arena in October.
Q. Can you share your perspective on the pitfalls to avoid or other career advice for those who are just getting started in the communications field?
A. There is no single path to finding happiness or success in our field. Comparing your progress to other colleagues or your graduating class is wasted energy that can be far better spent exploring the breadth and depth of our field. The FCBA has 30+ committees to explore and find your niche.
Also, to quote Ted Lasso, “Be curious, not judgmental.” It’s harder as a young lawyer or parent but take the time to explore recent developments in communications policy or technology that you find interesting but may not be billable or in the scope of your job description. Finally, there’s a great quote from Fahrenheit 451 about not being afraid to make mistakes: “You’re afraid of making mistakes. Don’t be. Mistakes can be profited by.” It’s hard to do as a professional but embrace and get comfortable making, and learning from, your mistakes.
Q. How has your life changed as a result of COVID-19 and what are you looking forward to doing next?
A. My family was exceedingly fortunate to avoid the worst of the pandemic. From a practice perspective, the technological developments of Zoom and acceptance of working outside of the office has largely eliminated the long-standing need to be in DC to be a telecom lawyer. I still come into the office every day, but there is now the very real option of the next chapter where I actively practice while sitting on a lakeside deck.
Q. How long have you been an FCBA member, and what to you is the value of FCBA membership?
A. I joined the FCBA in 1994 as a student member. As I’ve noted, the value of the FCBA for me has been immeasurable. I cannot think of another bar association or similar organization that routinely offers the wide range of learning, philanthropic, and mentoring/networking opportunities that the FCBA provides. It has given back so much to each of us, the communications community, and the broader community too.