FCC lawyer joins Jenner & Block

Former senior Federal Communications Commission official John Flynn has joined the Washington office of the law firm Jenner & Block.

Flynn previously served as senior counsel for transactions to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, where he led the FCC’s review of the merger of Comcast and NBC Universal. The joint venture of the two firms was eventually approved with a number of conditions, some of which drew criticism from the GOP.

“John will be a crucial part of our communications practice,” said Sam Feder, chairman of Jenner & Block’s communications practice and former FCC general counsel. “John’s high-level experience at the FCC, publicly traded communications and technology companies and the private bar are incredibly valuable.”

“I am thrilled to join Jenner & Block and help the firm expand its communications group,” Flynn said. “I look forward to adding my experience to Jenner & Block’s highly regarded practice.”

Flynn also previously worked at ICO (now known as Pendrell Corporation), Commerce One and rStar Broadband Networks. He has also represented communications and technology clients at WilmerHale and Munger, Tolles & Olson.

Flynn earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University. He clerked for Judge Edward Becker on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Justices Byron White and John Paul Stevens on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Flynn joins a communications practice that includes former FCC Deputy General Counsel Ajit Pai, who has been nominated to be an FCC commissioner by President Obama.

Pai’s nomination is currently on hold because of a delay by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), but if confirmed by the Senate he would replace Republican Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker, who left the FCC to join Comcast's lobbying shop.