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Public Utilities and Telecommunications

Practice Areas

Procuring Entitlements Public Utilities Regulatory Compliance Site Acquisition, Infrastructure Development and Leasing

Group Description

Our Public Utilities and Telecommunications practice group is one of the most experienced in Hawaii and the Pacific. We provide a full range of legal services to telecommunications and information technology owners, providers, operators, consultants, retailers and other businesses related to the telecommunications and information technology. Our clients range from the largest national telecommunications providers in the United States to small start-up Internet ventures. In the past few years, we served as primary outside counsel in the development of two digital wireless telecommunications systems, including the first wireless consumer digital telecommunications system in the United States. We have experience in taking our clients through the entire telecommunications development process, including market entry due diligence, the Federal Communications Commission licensing process, the development of a new communications network, and obtaining local regulatory approvals, and launching and maturing telecommunications and information technology services. We also have assisted in matters specifically applicable to technology firms, including taxation, sales and consumer credit, and litigation issues. Our group is at the forefront of the rapidly changing telecommunications industry and understands the convergence of Internet, telecommunications and computing. Our attorneys in the Public Utilities and Telecommunications Group are uniquely qualified to assist telecommunications and information technology firms in Hawaii and the Pacific with their legal needs. The Public Utilities and Telecommunications practice group also provides advice and representation to entities in the energy (electric, solar, wind), water (potable, non-potable, wastewater, chilled), and transportation (common and contract motor carriers) sectors. The firm represents utility clients in conjunction with other firm practice groups to provide full service representation on such issues as regulatory matters, certificates of public convenience and necessity, corporate and financial counseling, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, construction projects, securities, taxes, bankruptcy, labor and employment, corporate governance, and risk management. We also provide advice on organizational and operational matters to enable clients to operate as unregulated utilities, such as a homeowners' association water company. Our clients also include companies that closely interact with regulated public utilities such as Qualifying Facilities selling energy to electric companies. If you need legal advice with respect to a public utility matter, Cades Schutte has the experience and expertise to help.