By: Laura Phillips
Susan Duarte is a partner in Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP’s Communications, Technology and Media practice and is based in the firm’s Washington, DC office. She advises clients on telecommunications, privacy, artificial intelligence, and consumer protection matters. Susan earned her J.D. from The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law, where she received a certificate from the Communications Law Institute, now the Law and Technology Institute, and her B.A. from Boston College. Before her current stint in private practice, Susan spent more than twenty years in-house, including many years at Sprint, now T-Mobile. She was named Best In-House Counsel of the Year in 2024 by the Association of Corporate Counsel and holds CIPP/US, CIPP/E, and CIPM privacy certifications. Susan enjoys helping companies navigate complex regulatory issues and bring innovative products and services to market, including wireless networks, connected devices, platform-as-a-service offerings and artificial voice agents. She closely follows developments in her areas of practice and enjoys writing alerts because it provides a great way to explain what changed, why it matters, and what businesses may want to consider next. I first encountered Susan as a client in my outside counsel capacity for Nextel, and later Sprint. I always enjoyed collaborating with her on projects and it’s been wonderful to see her continue to develop and grow in her career. She’s a great listener and friend.
Q. What attracted you to the field of communications?
A. After college, I worked at Jones Day as a paralegal with the Issues and Appeals team. The attorneys in that group handled a wide range of appellate matters, and one partner worked on a telecommunications case that I found especially interesting. Given that, when I started at Catholic University’s law school, I knew I wanted to be part of the Communications Law Institute, and even more so after meeting Harvey Zuckman. The pre-law and law school experiences helped confirm my interest in communications law.
Q. Tell us about the various places you’ve worked through the years.
A. As part of the Communications Law Institute program at Catholic University, I completed several internships, including with the FCC’s Wireline and International Bureaus. Upon graduation, I worked at Mintz Levin as an associate before moving in-house at Nextel shortly after its merger with Sprint was announced. After sixteen years working in the same office for three different wireless carriers, I joined Verisign, where I learned about domain registries, and later Roofstock, which was a start-up. Every experience was valuable in my development and learning. But my in-house experiences gave me a front-row seat, practical understanding of how different companies operate, from early-stage businesses to established public companies. They also helped me better understand the business side of legal advice. I ultimately decided to return to law firm practice because I wanted to help a broader range of companies tackle and solve complex problems.
Q. Have things unfolded in your career more or less the way you planned?
A. Not exactly, and I am grateful for that. I spent most of my career in-house and quite honestly I did not set out to become a law firm partner. Each move came from following work I found meaningful and interesting, first telecommunications, then privacy, and now AI governance and AI voice. Looking back, the path makes sense, even though it is different from what I may have imagined much earlier in my career. While it’s not the same as planning a career path, I have to say that being open to new projects, including the ones no one else is rushing to take on, can lead to some of the most rewarding work. Labels matter less than what you make of the opportunity you have in front of you.
Q. What’s the most interesting or challenging thing that you’ve done in your current position?
A. I joined Womble in April 2026, and the transition to a new firm has been both challenging and rewarding. The people at Womble have been wonderful, which has made the move easier. One of the most interesting parts of my current position has been developing a personal business plan and thinking strategically about how to build a practice that reflects my background in telecommunications, privacy, AI governance, and AI voice. I enjoy that kind of strategic and creative thinking. It gives me space to reflect, set goals, and focus on where I can provide the most value to clients.
Q. Is there something interesting, or someone who surprised or impressed you, during your career?
A. I have had many interesting moments in my career and have worked with many impressive people, several of whom are mentors and friends today. If I had to identify one person who shaped the way I think about leadership, I would choose my former General Counsel at Roofstock, Patricia Svilik. Patricia was one of the reasons I wanted to join the company. From the moment I met her, it was clear that she was bright, talented, and deeply committed to the business. What stood out most was that she led with kindness. I never saw her be short or dismissive with a business partner or member of the legal team. She asked hard questions in a respectful way that helped people feel comfortable sharing the facts. She remembered birthdays, recognized the team’s hard work, and stood behind her people when they needed support. She demonstrated true leadership daily.
Q. What do you enjoy reading?
A. I tend to bounce between books that transport me to another time and books that are just pure fun. I love historical fiction, especially The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network and The Rose Code. My all-time favorite is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Lately, though, I have been happily leaning into beach reads, and I am currently reading Jenny Jackson’s The Shampoo Effect. Professionally, I have been reading more about AI, including Bruce Holsinger’s Culpability, a novel that explores how AI can affect our lives in unexpected ways.
Q. Is there something (a hobby or other tidbit) people don’t know about you that you are willing to share?
A. I have a competitive streak that comes out over a backgammon board or a good card game. I also enjoy cooking and taking cooking classes, especially when I can learn something new and then try it at home. And, like many dog people, I spend a fair amount of time walking our bulldog, Gidget, who has a strong personality and very specific views about where we should go, or whether we should walk at all. I’m hoping that Gidget’s picture makes it into this column so you can see even a little bit of what I’m saying.
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. Learn as much as you can about your clients’ businesses. Read their websites, press releases, and public filings, and ask thoughtful questions. The biggest pitfall I’ve seen people fall into more than once is assuming that the most glamorous work is always the best learning opportunity. Some of the less visible work can teach you the most because it helps you understand how companies actually operate. So, my advice is to be curious, be practical, and be willing to take on work that helps you build capacity and judgment.
Q. How has your life changed as a result of COVID-19, and what are you looking forward to doing next?
A. During COVID, we bought a new house, and one unexpected benefit was spending more time on the porch and getting to know our neighbors. That was a time when no one had any place else to go. It also reminded me how important connection is, even for introverts. Remote work has real advantages, but I still value the energy of being together, talking through ideas and collaborating in person. Next, I am looking forward to improving my pickleball game and finally learning enough Mahjong to know what I am doing. Time will tell.
Q. How long have you been an FCBA member, and what is the value of FCBA membership to you?
A. I joined the FCBA in 2001 as an associate at Mintz Levin. For me, the FCBA’s value is the community it creates for lawyers and professionals in telecommunications and technology law. It offers meaningful opportunities to network, attend CLEs, speak on panels, mentor others, and contribute to the association’s work. Early in my career, one of my favorite ways to get involved was volunteering and helping to organize the charity auction. As a younger lawyer, it was a fun and easy way to meet other young professionals. Over the years, the FCBA has also given me valuable, lasting professional relationships and friendships.