Latham & Watkins announced that Geoffrey Starks, a former Commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner in the Connectivity, Privacy & Information Practice.
Starks was unanimously confirmed twice by the US Senate and served as an FCC Commissioner from 2019 to 2025. During his tenure, he helped shape national telecommunications and media law and policy, overseeing proceedings and initiatives spanning telecommunications, broadband deployment and subsidy programs, spectrum allocation and policy, wireless and satellite licensing, privacy and data security, and artificial intelligence.
Serving across multiple administrations, Starks brings bipartisan experience working with senior FCC leaders, legislators, Executive Branch agencies, and industry stakeholders. Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, he served as Assistant Chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, where he led significant enforcement matters. Earlier in his career, he was Senior Counsel to the US Deputy Attorney General at the US Department of Justice and received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the department’s highest honor.
Starks earned his JD from Yale Law School and his BA, magna cum laude, from Harvard University. He clerked for Judge Duane Benton of the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
KEY QUOTES
“We are delighted to welcome Geoffrey to our outstanding team in Washington, D.C. As FCC Commissioner, he led enforcement efforts and oversaw critical initiatives across broadband, broadcasting, spectrum, and satellite services, and played a key role in public interest reviews of major telecom and media transactions — giving him an unparalleled understanding of the regulatory landscape that will be invaluable to our clients.”
Mandy Reeves, Washington, D.C. Office Managing Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
“Geoffrey is a key addition to our top-tier Communications Practice. Geoffrey’s deep experience and strategic insight position him to deliver exceptional value to clients navigating the complex intersection of communications policy, transactions, and high-stakes disputes. We are thrilled to welcome him to our team.”
Matthew Brill, Chair, Connectivity, Privacy & Information Practice, Latham & Watkins LLP
“I am excited to join Latham, a firm with a top-ranked communications practice and elite regulatory, transactional, and litigation capabilities that together create an ideal platform. Latham will enable me to translate my legal and policy experience into high-value client work — particularly as regulatory uncertainty drives increased demand for sophisticated counsel. I look forward to working alongside talented colleagues, especially on matters where regulatory outcomes directly affect deal economics and investment decisions.”
Geoffrey Starks, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
