$ 250-500 per hour
Jonathan Soukias Marashlian
About Jonathan
Biography
Legal counsel to the Telecommunications, Voice over IP (VoIP) / SIP, Cloud Communications and Broadband industries; experienced in virtually all aspects of federal and state communications law and regulation. Serving clients in these industry segments:
· Cloud Communications and providers of Software as a Service ("SaaS") / Communications as a Software ("CaaS")
· Traditional wireline telecommunications services, including domestic & international Long Distance (IXC) and Competitive Local Exchange (CLEC)
· Information & enhanced communications services
· Wireless and MVNO services
· All segments of prepaid services, including Prepaid Calling Cards, PINless, Wireless/MVNO, Gift Cards and Financial Services
· Broadband networks, ISPs & Internet Access services
· Advanced communication application (apps) services & developers
· Broad spectrum of Internet Based (IP-based) services, including Voice over Internet ("VoIP") and other hybrid & convergent communications service providers
· Communications equipment manufacturers
Specialized experiences include: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and nationwide state utility commission (PUC), Secretary of State and Attorney General regulatory, transactional, enforcement defense and FCC advocacy services; telecom tax issues, including traditional communications taxes, VoIP, SIP and Cloud-communications taxes, Universal Service Fund (USF) and other regulatory fees & tax planning; wireline & wireless transfers/assignments of control; mergers, acquisitions and customer base/asset sales; regulatory compliance & reporting, contract drafting, negotiations and review; domestic and international communications market entry services, including licensing & tariffing; dispute resolution and administrative litigation; FCC advocacy and representation of clients in a variety of administrative proceedings, including rulemakings, declaratory petitions, and enforcement matters, such as Show Cause, NALs and informal and formal complaints.
As the firm’s Managing Partner and head of its Regulatory and Communications Taxes and Fees Practices, Mr. Marashlian is responsible for coordinating and managing staff and attorneys and guiding the firm's clients through the maze of state and federal regulatory requirements, including the coordination, management and execution of regulatory filings associated with a full range of corporate and regulatory transactions, from the routine to the highly complex. Mr. Marashlian assists clients with regulatory compliance, transactional, litigation & regulatory defense matters before the FCC, USAC and state regulatory agencies across the nation; counsel clients in all aspects of state and federal regulatory matters with concentrations in the areas of telecommunications taxes, regulatory fees, and the prosecutions and defense of actions before the FCC Enforcement Bureau, State Public Utility Commissions and other government agencies.
Mr. Marashlian has applied his extensive knowledge of the telecommunications and information & advanced communication technology industries to assist clients with regulatory compliance, transactional, litigation & regulatory defense matters before the FCC and other federal agencies, as well as state regulatory agencies across the nation. Mr. Marashlian counsels clients in all aspects of state and federal regulatory matters as well as the impact regulation and operating in an incumbent dominated industry have on competitive businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to established providers.
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Telecommunications
75%
29 years
Tax
10%
29 years
Communications and Media
5%
29 years
Intellectual Property
5%
29 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Check
- Credit Card
Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.
Search our directory
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Maryland for 27 years
State: Maryland
Acquired: 1998
No misconduct found
Location
Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC, The CommLaw Group / CommTechDataLaw
1420 Spring Hill Rd., Suite 401, McLean, VA, 22102
Ad
Transform legal challenges into solutions.
Connect now to review your situation.
Jonathan Soukias Marashlian's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
5 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (5)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge
Posted by Keith | March 19, 2013 | Telecommunications
US Telecommunications Law
As a UK based customer the US telecommunications legal arena was completely alien to me and before he could start to represent us Jonathan worked hard to understand our structure and services. Based upon his analysis our strategy with regards to US registration was completely changed and we have avo...
Posted by EOcampo | July 12, 2010 | Telecommunications
An Expert Telecoms Lawyer
Jonathan is very knowledgeable in Telecoms and is very much involved in new developments. I have worked with a number of lawyers in the past and I could say that Jonathan is very much approachable and is always willing to share his expert opinion. We have always relied on him and his partners for...
Posted by Sean | July 06, 2010 | Telecommunications
DSCI Review
As the CEO/President of DSCI Corporation I have had the pleasure of working with Jon Marashlian for nearly 10 years on a variety of matters related to telecom regulation and certification. I have found his experience and responsiveness to be peerless.
Posted by Nelson | June 30, 2010 | Business
Jonathan S. Marashlian, Comm Law Group
Jonathan has been our telecom attorney for about 10 yrs. He has skillfully handled cases involving the FCC and various state regulatory offices. His consistently pragmatic approach is refreshing as he always considers the business impact of legal decisions. Billing is clear and considerate. Our co...
Jonathan Soukias Marashlian's Lawyer Endorsements
"Jonathan Marashlian is one of the premier attorneys in the telecommunications field. While he not only understands the nuances of this very complicated area of the law, he also takes the time to ensure that each of his clients is vigorously represented. He has built a firm that is focused on providing client-centric representation. His firm is able to provide clients with top-notch representation, but without the price tag associated with larger firms. All of these attributes of Mr. Marashlian and his firm allow their clients to continue to grow, while not sacrificing the legal representation they require."
"I enthusiastically endorse this lawyer. Jonathan is an exceptional telecommunications attorney who has used his legal talent and ingenuity to create an extremely efficient and cost-effective telecommunications law firm and regulatory consultancy group. Jonathan is clearly ahead of the curve with his unique model of providing high quality, yet affordable, legal representation and regulatory compliance services. I have many years experience as a telecommunications attorney, and I can honestly say that I have never seen a telecommunications legal organization that is as client-centered and accomplished as The CommLaw Group and its consulting entity, The Commpliance Group. Each client is treated as an individual, prompt attention is given to the matter at hand, and strong efforts are made to provide the most cost-efficent solution possible. All of this is a testament to Jonathan's professional creativity. I wholeheartedly endorse him."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Jonathan for years. As others have observed, Jonathan has a wealth of knowledge of telecommunications law. What I have seen that sets Jonathan apart is his tireless work ethic. Any client would be lucky to have him as his or her lawyer."
"Jonathan possesses a keen understanding of complex emerging technologies and the changing regulatory landscape that affects them. His sharp business sense enables him to understand quickly how changes in the law will affect his clients -- and what to do about it. Because of his broad experience, Jonathan is able to discern how to achieve a client's priorities most effectively and efficiently. To my mind, what makes him a great lawyer, above and beyond his tremendous knowledge of highly technical and complex matters, is his eloquence and fluency in speech and writing when negotiating and arguing on behalf of his clients."
"Jonathan Marashlian brings together a wealth of telecommunications law experience in multiple areas of the industry for the benefit of clients. He is always at the cutting edge of industry developments. In addition to his superb legal skills, Jonathan brings one other extremely important quality to the table for the benefit of his clients: unlike many other legal professionals in the telecommunications law area, Jonathan's representation of clients is never limited to a mere recitation of the surface implications of FCC, State Regulatory Agency or Congressional actions. Rather, his legal advice always considers -- and counsels -- the practical ramifications of federal, state, Congressional pronouncements on the client's core business. This quality is the difference between a fine practitioner and a truly stellar one. Jonathan is definitely in the truly stellar category. I would unreservedly recommend him to telecom companies and legal professionals in need of telecom expertise."
"Jonathan is that rare type of attorney who not only possesses excellent legal skills and knowledge of the law (particularly in regard to the Telecommunications Act of 1996) but he also offers his keen business insight to any issue he tackles. It is his ability to align the correct legal answer with the correct answer for his client that gives him an added edge over his peers and provides an invaluable asset to his clients."
Nathaniel Hardy
Communications and media lawyer
Allison Rule
Tax lawyer
Joseph Hankins
Litigation lawyer
Christopher Canter
Telecommunications lawyer
Michael Donahue
Telecommunications lawyer
Michael Bucci
Divorce and separation lawyer
Jacqueline Neff
Telecommunications lawyer
Linda McReynolds
Telecommunications lawyer
Harisha Bastiampillai
Telecommunications lawyer
Experience
Honors
2013
Client Choice Award Winner for Telecommunications Law, Lexology / International Law Office
2013
Customer Service Law Firm of the Year - United States, ACQ Global Awards
2013
AV Preeminent 4.9 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1991
James W. Jackson Research Award, University of Richmond
Work Experience
2006 - Present
Managing Partner, Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC, The CommLaw Group
2002 - 2006
Partner, The Helein Law Group, LLC
1998 - 2001
Associate, Helein & Associates, PC
1997 - 1998
Legal Intern, MCI Communications
1996 - 1998
Legal Intern, National Telephone Cooperative Association
Associations
1998 - Present
Maryland State Bar Association
1998 - Present
Armenian Bar Association
1996 - Present
Federal Communications Bar Association
Sample of Legal Cases
Touch America, Inc. v. Qwest Communications International, et al, File No. EB-02-MD-003
Settlement Agreement
Oblio Telecom, Inc. v. AT&T Corp., AAA Arbitration
Settlement
Education
1998
George Mason University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1994
University of Richmond
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2011
TeleStrategies Communications Taxation 2011
Regulatory, Tax and Business Implications of Recent FCC Decisions Related to Enhanced Communications
2010
Implementation of the National Broadband Plan: Issues, Opportunities and Challenges
National Broadband Plan
2009
VoIP Taxation and Regulatory Fees on the Rise: Your Guide to Compliance
VoIP Taxation
2009
The Prepaid Press Expo
Regulatory Update
2008
The Prepaid Press Expo
Regulatory Update
2007
Sonus Networks Technical Leadership Forum
Net Neutrality
Publications
2011
CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law and Policy
The Mis-Administration and Misadventures of the Universal Service Fund: A Study in the Importance of the Administrative Procedure Act to Government Agency Rulemaking
2002
Federal Communications Law Journal
Detariffing and the death of the filed tariff doctrine: deregulating in the "self" interest
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
My sister-in-law posted naked pictures of my 5 year old on facebook. What can I legally do?
06 Sep 2013
Q&A
Can verizon phone company shut off my phone for non payment
15 May 2012
Q&A
Am I supposed to be paying taxes on VOIP telephone service?
14 Feb 2011
Legal Guides
Legal Guide
Compliance with Clarified FCC Rules Governing Wholesaler-Reseller Exemption from USF - Part 2
11 Jul 2013
Legal Guide
Compliance with Clarified FCC Rules Governing Wholesaler-Reseller Exemption from USF - Part 1
11 Jul 2013
Legal Guide
SALES TAX AND GOVERNMENT FEE ISSUES FOR M&As INVOLVING “CLOUD” COMPUTING & COMMUNICATIONS
15 Jul 2012