Tom W. Davidson is the head of the firm's national communication and information technology practice. He represents clients in the domestic and international telecommunications and high-technology industries, including video program suppliers and distributors, fiber-optic network carriers, competitive local exchange and interexchange carriers, satellite systems, mobile and fixed wireless telecommunications operators, radio and television stations, cable television system operators, air-to-ground telephone systems, paging companies, equipment manufacturers, private radio operators and providers of new technologies and services. He also advises the financial community, including private equity debt and hedge funds, investment banks, issuers of private and public debt and equity, financial institutions, telecommunications equipment suppliers and other creditors of telecommunications and technology companies regarding transactional, valuation and regulatory issues related to the financing and securitization of telecommunications companies. In addition, Mr. Davidson advises intellectual property-focused, advanced technology companies in commercial transactions, licensing agreements and regulatory matters. He assists e-commerce companies with co-branding, registration, privacy, joint venture and licensing agreements, as well as relevant regulatory acquisitions. Prior to joining Akin Gump, Mr. Davidson was a partner at Sidley & Austin, where he focused on communications law for more than 12 years. Previously, he served as a trial attorney in the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadcast Bureau (now the Media Bureau). Mr. Davidson received his B.A. with distinction in 1974 and his J.D. cum laude in 1977 from the University of Wisconsin. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Davidson is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association and the Federal Communications Bar Association, and is a member of the Virginia, Wisconsin and District of Columbia Bars. Mr. Davidson is a frequent panelist at national communications seminars.