Deborah Kuhn Email and Phone Number

Joined Verizon’s legal department upon 2006 merger with MCI, with progressively expanded responsibilities thereafter. Represented Verizon’s diverse wireline and wireless business units before state utility regulatory commissions and supported lobbying organization throughout twelve-state North Central region.• Litigated complex rate cases, interconnection agreement arbitrations, and other proceedings affecting market entry, competition, operating practices, profitability, and regulatory burdens.• Prosecuted and defended multi-million dollar complaint cases before state regulators, including directly managing discovery process; preparing internal and expert witnesses; acting as lead counsel at hearing; and drafting testimony, briefs and proposed orders. • Represented affiliates in administrative rulemakings, agency investigations, arbitrations and mediations.• Participated in stakeholder meetings; drafted bills, amendments and advocacy materials to aid in-house and contract lobbyists in advancing company’s legislative agenda; analyzed proposed legislation and advised lobbyists on implications for corporate business units. • Advised internal clients on state campaign finance laws, “pay-to-play” prohibitions, corporate and governmental employee ethics restrictions, formation/permissible activities of political action committees, and other matters relating to political contributions and lobbying.• Facilitated corporate entity rationalization projects by supporting due diligence reviews and obtaining regulatory approvals for intracompany reorganizations and external mergers.• Recent wins:o Passed laws in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Utah to streamline deployment of small cell infrastructure/pole attachments critical to roll-out of 5G wireless technology.o Obtained $9M judgment in contentious 6-year breach of contract proceeding, resulting in opponent’s bankruptcy.

Practice concentrated in commercial litigation, including criminal antitrust matters, post-arbitration litigation and state and federal appellate practice.

Practice concentrated in commercial litigation, including consumer class action and product liability defense.